Prevalence of Pseudoexfoliative Syndrome and Its Association with Systemic Conditions in the Tertiary Centre of South Gujarat

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) and assess its association with various systemic conditions in a cohort from South Gujarat.
Material and Methods: A hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted from September 2022 to June 2023 at a tertiary care center in South Gujarat. Patients diagnosed with PES were included, and detailed ocular and systemic evaluations were performed. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data and identify associations between PES and systemic conditions, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and elevated serum homocysteine levels.
Results: The study included forty patients with a mean age of 65 years. Hypertension (37.5%) and diabetes mellitus (25%) were common comorbidities. Elevated intraocular pressure (62.5%) and optic nerve head abnormalities were prevalent among PES patients. A significant association was found between PES and hypertension (p=0.009) and elevated serum homocysteine levels (p=0.037), indicating a potential contribution of these conditions to PES pathophysiology. No significant association was found between PES and diabetes mellitus.
Conclusion: This study confirms the high prevalence of PES in South Gujarat and its association with systemic conditions like hypertension and elevated homocysteine levels. Early detection and management of PES and its comorbidities may help improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of both ocular and systemic complications. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to deepen understanding of the complex relationship between PES and systemic diseases.