Abstract

Exfoliation syndrome (EXS) is an agerelated generalized disorder characterized by the production and accumulation of a fibrillar extracellular material in the ocular and other tissues. The EXS and exfoliative glaucoma (EXG) are common ocular conditions with significant repercussions for the health of the eye. Prevalence of EXS varies widely in different parts of the world. It is a common condition in the Nordic countries. According to a study conducted in Tartu, the prevalence of EXS in Estonia is 25.5%.

Ocular degenerative changes arising due to the synthesis and accumulation of exfoliative material within ocular tissues significantly increase the incidence of glaucoma. Exfoliative glaucoma (common in Estonia, accountig for up to 50% of all open-angle glaucomas) is a sight-threatening condition whose clinical characteristics, course and prognosis are different from those of primary open-angle glaucoma.