The Frequency of Exfoliation Syndrome in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey

Abstract

Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of exfoliation syndrome in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey and to evaluate its relationship with cardiovascular and ocular diseases. Methods. Patients over the age of 45 years who presented to the clinic were included in the study. All cases underwent a comprehensive ophthalmology examination. Exfoliation syndrome was diagnosed with the presence of exfoliative material on the lens anterior capsule or iris on slit lamp examination. The patients were divided into two groups as the exfoliation syndrome group and nonexfoliation syndrome group according to the presence of exfoliative material. Results. Exfoliative material was found in one or both eyes of 212 of the 2103 patients (10.1%) evaluated within the scope of the study. A significant relationship was found between exfoliation syndrome and increasing age and male gender. A significant relationship was found between exfoliation syndrome and glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and phacodonesis. While no relationship was found between exfoliation syndrome and hypertension or diabetes mellitus, a significant relationship was found with coronary artery disease. Conclusion. The unilateral or bilateral exfoliation syndrome frequency was 10.1% in this hospital-based study. A statistically significant relationship was found between exfoliation syndrome and advancing age, gender, and coronary artery disease.

The prevalence of exfoliation syndrome in Turkey

“…The XFS prevalence was 6.5% for the 45 years and older population in this study but 10.1% in the previous hospital‐based study (Kılıç et al. ). The higher rate in the hospital‐based study could be due to the increased presentation of exfoliative glaucoma patients at the hospital for their routine follow‐ups compared to normal subjects.…”

“…We found XFS to be more common in males in this study as in the previous hospital‐based one and the difference was statistically significant (Exp(B): 1.91 OR: 1.88, CI: 1.08–3.39 p = 0.027) (Kılıç et al. ). Some studies reported higher rates in both genders but most found no significant relationship between gender and XFS (Kozobolis et al.…”

“…The glaucoma prevalence was 36.3% in the previous hospital‐based study and 19% in this study (Kılıç et al. ). Hospital‐based studies have similarly found high rates of glaucoma (Rao et al.…”

“…; Kılıç et al. ). The XFS prevalence was found to be 5.7% (95%CI: 0.054–0.060) in this population‐based study.…”

“…; Kılıç et al. ). The aim of this population‐based study was therefore to investigate the XFS prevalence and its relationship with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM), HT, coronary artery disease (CAD), smoking and alcohol use.…”