High prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome and its complications in Tarragona in northeast Spain.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) in our health area, in 4 counties of Tarragona, and its involvement in the health status of the population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of a sample of 2,342 inhabitants aged = 60 years, randomly selected from the population census. Subjects were classified in 3 groups according to age (group 1 = 60-69 years, group 2 = 70-79 years, group 3 = over 80 years). The diagnosis of PEX was made in all cases by the same ophthalmologist, using biomicroscopic and slit-lamp evaluation. Corneal endothelial study was made by specular microscope. RESULTS: The prevalence of PEX was 309/2,342 patients (13.19%), unilateral in 219/309 (70.87%). The prevalence of PEX in patients with open-angle glaucoma was 29.48%. Changes in corneal endothelium were higher in patients with PEX, with lower cell density and hexagonality percentage, with higher coefficient of variation, significant in age groups 2 and 3. The prevalence of cataract in patients with PEX was 80.58%, versus 54.64% in patients without PEX. Complications of cataract surgery were higher in patients with PEX and postoperative corneal edema was best correlated with a low hexagonality percentage. No systemic cardiovascular diseases were significant in patients with PEX. CONCLUSIONS: In our health district area, a high prevalence of PEX exists. A more extensive study of the causes of these differences is needed, including analysis of the genetic makeup of the population.