Complications of Extracapsular Cataract Extraction in Patients with Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the complications of extracapsular cataract extraction in patients with pseudoexfoliation (PE) syndrome. Study Design: A retrospective study of patients operated on between 1990 and 1992. Setting: Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology. Patients: Seventy-three patients with PE syndrome. The mean age of the patients was 71.3 ± 8.0 years with ages ranging between 54 and 89. There were 42 male patients with a mean age of 71.8 and 31 female patients with a mean age of 70.6. Results: Pupillary irregularity was the most frequent complication (23.3%) in the study. The other complications were as follows: posterior capsule rupture in 6.8%, posterior capsule rupture with vitreous loss 4.1%, fibrinoid reaction in 4.1%, posterior synechia in 4.1%, intraocular lens (IOL) decentralization in 2.7% and UGH syndrome in 1.4%. Conclusions: Cataract surgery in PE syndrome may be linked to several problems. Eyes with PE may show spontaneous subluxation of the lens. The zonular fibres are known to be weak in PE syndrome and the central posterior lens capsule very thin. However the low rates of complications of ECCE with and without IOL implantation has convinced us that this procedure is relatively safe in patients with PE syndrome.