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Abstract #18409 Published in IGR 3-3
Changes in visual acuity and refraction in the exfoliation syndrome: a five-year follow-up study
Puska PM; Tarkkanen AHAEuropean Journal of Ophthalmology 2001; 11: 245-251
PURPOSE: To examine changes in visual acuity (VA) and refraction in non-glaucomatous patients with unilateral exfoliation syndrome (EXS). METHODS: The best-corrected values for VA (Snellen acuity cards), subjectively adjusted for refraction, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured, and the development of lens opacities was examined in 46 non-glaucomatous patients with unilateral EXS. RESULTS: After five years, the rate of conversion to bilateral exfoliation was 22% and to exfoliative glaucoma 30%. There was a significant decrease in VA in the exfoliative (E) eyes (median, QI, QIII, range: 1; 0.8, 1, 0.4-1.3 versus 0.55; 0.4, 1, 0.05-1.4, p < 0.0001) and fellow, initially non-exfoliative (NE) (1; 0.9, 1, 0.3-1.3 versus 0. 7, 0.5, 0.9, 0. 1- 1.4, p < 0.0001) eyes, and a significant myopic change in refraction in the E eyes (+1.02 ± 2.48 versus +0.11 ± 3.06, p = 0.0001) and the NE eyes (+0.99 ± 2.25 versus +0.43 ± 2.55 D, p < 0.01). At study entry, the difference in refraction between the fellow eyes (refraction in the NE eye - refraction in the E eye) was -0.27 ± 1.00 D. After five years, this was +0.32 ± 1.44 (p < 0.016), reflecting greater myopic changes in the E eyes. The main type of lens opacification was nuclear sclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: In five years, significant decreases in VA and myopic shifts in refraction occurred in the E and fellow eyes. The E eyes showed significantly greater myopic changes than the fellow eyes; the cause of which was clearly nuclear sclerosis, which must be taken into account in the long-term management of patients with EXS.
Dr P.M. Puska, Helsinki University Eye Hospital, Haartmanink. 4, PL 220, 00029 Hyks, Helsinki, Finland. paivi.puska@huch.fi
Classification:
9.4.4.1 Exfoliation syndrome (Part of: 9 Clinical forms of glaucomas > 9.4 Glaucomas associated with other ocular and systemic disorders > 9.4.4 Glaucomas associated with disorders of the lens)
