The Prevalence and Ocular Findings of Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome Among Somali Patients at Garissa County Referral Hospital Eye Clinic

Abstract

Background: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is a multisystemic disorder characterized by the accumulation of fibrillar materials in the eye. Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is attributed to the most prevalent secondary open-angle glaucoma in the world and increases the risk of cataracts and complications during cataract surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and ocular features of pseudoexfoliation syndrome among Somali patients at Garissa County Referral Hospital. Objective: To determine the prevalence and ocular findings of pseudoexfoliation syndrome among Somali patients at the Garissa referral hospital eye clinic. Design of the study: A cross-sectional descriptive study. Study Area: Garissa County Referral Hospital eye clinic. Methods: A systematic random sampling method was employed to select patients for the study. The recruited patients were administered informed consent, and a complete history and physical examination were carried out. The data obtained was recorded in a structured questionnaire and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences version 20. The results were presented in frequencies, charts, and percentage distribution tables for categorical variables. Results: The prevalence of the pseudoexfoliation syndrome was 28.1% (95%CI: 20.1 % - 37.3%). The majority of the patients had bilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome contributing to 59.4% of the cases. The mean age of the patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome was higher than mean of patients without pseudoexfoliation syndrome (65.7+/-12.2 vs 60.32+/-11.81). The prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome increased significantly with age. The Prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome among patients aged 40-50 was 18.8% and 34.4 % in patients aged > 70 years. The majority of pseudo-exfoliative material deposits were found on the pupillary margin at 74.5%. Cataract was more common in the pseudo-exfoliation group with a prevalence of 82.4% and nuclear cataract was the most common cataract. The prevalence of glaucoma among patients with Pseudoexfoliation syndrome was 15.7%. There was a positive correlation between age, type of cataract, glaucoma, and pseudoexfoliation syndrome. xii Recommendations: In-depth assessment of patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome to identify ocular morbidities earlier and institute proper management. Follow up study in the community should be done to determine the prevalence of pseudoexfoliation in the Somali community