Central retinal vein occlusion in pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule

In surveying an extensive group of patients with unilateral pseudoexfoliation of the lens capsule certain interesting points emerged, particularly on the incidence of central retinal vein occlusion in this condition, and perhaps in glaucoma also. A total of 284 patients with unilateral pseudo­exfoliation of the lens capsule were examined clinically after an ophthalmic and general history were taken. Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 30.9 mmHg in the affected eye and 18.1 mmHg in the unaffected eye. Central retinal vein occlusion occurred in 10 affected eyes but no unaffected eyes and always in affected eyes with a rise in IOP. Average IOP in the affected eye with central retinal vein occlusion was 37.5 mmHg (range 26−54 mmHg); in the unaffected fellow eye it was 18.0 mmHg (range 11−28 mmHg). Although the process involved in producing pseudo­exfoliation of the lens capsule may contribute to the precipitation of central retinal vein occlusion, these findings suggest the rise in IOP is the more important cause. This may also be so in other forms of glaucoma.