ABSTRACT.Purpose: To describe and compare the preoperative characteristics of Greek patients with exfoliation glaucoma (EXG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: We prospectively investigated the preoperative features of 100 consecutive patients undergoing filtration surgery for either EXG, or POAG. We compared 74 patients with EXG and 26 with POAG. Results: EXG patients were older (68.2 vs 62.4 years; p∞0.05) and more often from the countryside (73%). Both glaucomas showed a preponderance for males, similar frequencies of positive family history and systemic disorders, with the exception of diabetes which was more common in POAG (19.2% vs 5.4%). The first IOP measurement, before treatment, was significantly higher in EXG (40.4 mm Hg) compared with POAG (33.9 mm Hg). Despite a shorter duration of medical therapy (25 vs 65 months) and more topical drugs EXG patients exhibited higher mean preoperative IOP (36 vs 27.8 mm Hg for POAG; p∞0.05). EXG patients had significantly worse visual acuity than POAG (0.4 vs 0.6; p∞0.05) and worse compliance to medical therapy (48%) compared to POAG (33%). Conclusion: Significant differences in preoperative features distinguish EXG from POAG.

Background: The quality of the donor cornea, which basically depends on the condition of the endothelial sheet, is an important factor for the successful outcome of penetrating keratoplasty. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study, we present our experience in using trypan blue staining for the examination and evaluation of 498 consecutive corneal grafts from 251 donors, concerning their suitability for penetrating keratoplasty, during the decade 1986–1995. Results: Forty-two grafts out of 498 (8.5%) were considered not suitable for surgery because of the great number of destroyed cells (cell density less than 1,500 cells/mm²) and the abnormal cell size and cell shape. Nine out of the 456 (1.97%) operated eyes exhibited primary donor failure and needed re-operation, probably because of boundary cell density of the graft (ranged in those cases from 1,600 to 1,800 cells/mm²). No infections of grafts were observed. Conclusion: Tissue evaluation of corneal grafts by the use of trypan blue staining is a simple, cost-effective, safe and accurate method that does not influence the vitality of the endothelial layer of the grafts.

Protein concentration was measured in 30 exfoliation syndrome samples and 22 age matched controls. Exfoliation samples contained significantly more protein than controls. We also analyzed by SDS gel electrophoresis 32 aqueous samples, 12 with exfoliation syndrome and 20 age matched controls. A novel finding in all samples was a double band with 77 kDa and 78 kDa. These bands probably represent transferrin isoforms, with different carbohydrate side chains. Exfoliation samples contained a lower amount of the 77 kDa band in comparison to the amount of the 78 kDa band. The lower relative concentration of this transferrin isoform in the exfoliation syndrome samples may be indicative of its possible involvement in the disorder. A different oligosaccharide side chain in combination with a relatively high protein concentration may lead to sedimentation of this molecule. On the other hand, laminin, a glycoprotein detected previously in exfoliation material, contains similar oligosaccharide side chains with transferrin. Thus the oligosaccharide side chains of both proteins may be influenced by the same factors.

We report the presence of simple iris coloboma in 4 out of 5 female members comprising four generations of a Greek family. A varied degree of simple iris coloboma (i.e. not associated with a choroidal coloboma) was present in one eye of the maternal grandmother, mother, daughter and one out of 2 granddaughters of this family. The iris colobomata were associated with congenital lens opacities in 2 out of 4 of the females, macular degenerative changes in 2 cases and ocular hypertension in one case. The pathogenesis, heredity and associations of simple iris colobomata is discussed.