Abstract
Purpose::
The prevalence of exfoliation síndrome (XFS) varies widely in different parts of the world. Little is known about prevalence in Latin America. To report the prevalence of XFS and exfoliative glaucoma (XFG) in a population attending a public hospital in Malvinas Argentinas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Methods::
Consecutive phakic patients older than 60 years-old, without personal history of glaucoma were examined. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed.
Results::
49 out of 337 patients (14.5%) had XFS. Mean age was 72.9 (+ 6.6) years-old. 69.4% were male; and in 63.2% was bilateral. The prevalence increased with age: from 9.5% in individuals between 60-69 years-old to 27.2% in individuals ≥ 80 y/o. Cataract was observed in 59%, glaucomatous optic neuropathy in 34.6%, and IOP >21 mmHg in 30.5% of the individuals with XFS. 46.9% of the patients with XFS had blood hypertension and 16.3% had diabetes.
Conclusions::
XFS was frequent in the studied population. A very important percentage of these individuals had glaucoma, and elevated IOP was also frequent in this study. Almost half of the subjects had blood hypertension and one out of six had diabetes. XFS and XFG may be highly prevalent in Argentina. Blood hypertension and diabetes should be investigated in patients with XFS.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence