Symptoms that seem harmless at first glance, such as cloudy eyes, iridescent circles, fogging, can signal a serious illness - pseudoexfoliative syndrome. This pathology requires treatment and careful observation of a specialist - an ophthalmologist. The disease cannot be ignored. This is fraught with serious consequences.
More about the disease
Pseudoexfoliative syndrome (according to ICD 10 - H04.1)– is an uveopathy characterized by the deposition of protein on the structures of the eyeball. The disease is directly related to the age of a person. The older the patient, the higher the risk of developing pathology. After the age of 70, the probability of developing the syndrome reaches 42 percent. This also increases the risk of developing glaucoma. It should be noted that pseudoexfoliative syndrome is more often diagnosed in women, but it is much easier for them than for the stronger sex. Residents of the northern regions are most prone to the appearance of the syndrome.
Causes of occurrence
To date, not all the causes of the disease have been studied:
- UV radiation, the impact of which causes free radical oxidation and destruction of the cell membrane. The consequence of the action of ultraviolet rays is atrophy.
- Traumatic injury to the eyeball.
- Intraorbital infections.
- Impairment of a comprehensive measure of the state of the immune system, which is confirmed by the results of research.
- Genetic predisposition of a person can also cause the appearance and further development of pseudoexfoliative syndrome.
Doctors managed to identify a direct link between the syndrome and arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm.
Pathogenesis
The leading influence on the development of pseudoexfoliative eye syndrome is the formation and long-term storage of an abnormal protein on the surface of the eye. It is extremely rare to notice pathological formations on the anterior chamber. To date, it is known that the syndrome is directly related to a violation of the relationship between the structures of the eyeball.
Disease classification
There are several degrees of pseudoexfoliative syndrome. Treatment depends on what type of pathology the disease belongs to:
- The first degree is characterized by a slight decrease in the size of the iris. In the region of the lens, a slight layering of a specific protein-polysaccharide complex - amyloid.
- The second degree is a moderate atrophy of the stroma of the iris. Protein deposits in the lens area are clearly visible.
- The third degree, in which the changes are pronounced. The transitional area between the edge of the pupil and the inside of the iris takes on a different look and becomes like a cellophane film. This change is due to the divergence of rays of different colors when passing through a refractive medium.
Only a qualified ophthalmologist can determine the degree of damage to the structures of the eyeball.
Symptoms
It is very difficult to notice the disease in the early stages, because for a long time it is asymptomatic. Initially, one eye is affected, most often the left. Pseudoexfoliative syndrome in both eyes is observed several years after the onset of the first symptoms. As a rule, patients turn to specialists at that stage of the disease, when the protein deposits are quite massive and noticeable. People have clouding before their eyes, specific iridescent circles appear.
At the same stage, there is a decrease in visual acuity. This phenomenon is due to damage to the lens, a decrease in the size of the iris sphincter and an increase in intraocular pressure. Subsequently, there is blurred vision, a violation of refraction. Pain syndrome does not always appear, but only when the ligamentous apparatus is damaged.
The disease develops slowly. The severity of symptoms increases as the disease progresses.
It is worth noting that whenpseudoexfoliative syndrome symptoms appear not only in the organs of vision, but also in other structures of the human body. If the amyloid is in the liver, there is a feeling of heaviness in the right hypochondrium, less often - the appearance of a yellowish tint on the surface of the skin.
Syndrome often accompanies people with senile dementia, as well as chronic ischemia and Alzheimer's disease.
Complications
A complication of the disease is primarily a cataract of the nuclear type, accompanied by weakness of the ligamentous apparatus. This leads to a displacement of the lens. A similar phenomenon is observed in more than half of patients with pseudoexfoliative syndrome. The most serious consequences of the disease are optic neuropathy and blindness.
Diagnosis
To diagnose the syndrome, doctors use the following research methods:
- eye biomicroscopy;
- gonioscopy;
- non-contact tonometry;
- Eye ultrasound;
- ultrasonic biomicroscopy;
- Scopalamine test;
- visometry;
- perimetry.
Patients with the syndrome may need to consult other specialists. This is due to the fact that protein formations can be located not only in the organs of vision, but also in other structures of the body.
Treatment
The treatment system for pseudoexfoliative eye syndrome, aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease, does notprovided. The goal of conservative therapy is to prevent the development of severe complications and reduce the severity of symptoms.
Patients are prescribed a range of drugs:
- Antioxidants that inhibit the destruction of tissue structures in the eye.
- Antihypoxants. They are prescribed to improve metabolism and stimulate the process of tissue respiration. From this category of funds, "Cytochrome C" is used. Drip administration of the substance accelerates the healing of damage to the structures of the anterior segments of the eyes.
- When intraocular pressure increases, the doctor prescribes antihypertensive drugs.
- Complex of vitamins. For patients with pseudoexfoliative syndrome, a structural analogue of vitamin B6 is provided, as well as vitamins A and E.
Long-term treatment is aimed at reducing the severity of the main symptoms. In some cases, taking medication does not give the desired result. Then there is a need for surgical intervention. Manipulations can be performed surgically or with a laser. Laser trabeculoplasty is considered the most effective. However, this method of treatment only temporarily relieves the patient of such a symptom as an increase in intraocular pressure. After a few years, usually 3-4 years, relapses occur.
