Exfoliation SIG Corner

SIG Corner Editor: Hana Abouzeid

Chair: Gabor Hollo
Co-chair: Anastasios G. Konstas

The goal of this SIG is to increase ophthalmologists’ knowledge and academic interest in exfoliation syndrome (XFS) and exfoliative glaucoma (XFG), and to optimize their management in Europe.

Courses:
We organize a well-attended one-hour course in every EGS congress in order to update participants on recent developments in XFS/XFG (basic science, clinical management and surgical care).
Goal: to present and discuss exfoliation research, clinical developments and therapeutic innovations

Clinical study/survey:
A recent European glaucoma referral study (Holló G, Schmidl D, Hommer A, for the ReF-GS Investigators. Referral for First Glaucoma Surgery in Europe, the ReF-GS Study. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2019 Jul;29(4):406-416. doi: 10.1177/1120672118791937) may facilitate future endeavours.
Goal: To further develop clinical and pathophysiological insights for XFS and to enhance XFG therapy in Europe, involving the EGS Next Generation Partnership members.

Ongoing projects of the SIG
Courses: we organize a well-attended one-hour course in every EGS congress in order to update participants on recent developments in XFS/XFG (basic science, clinical management and surgical care). Goal: to present and discuss exfoliation research, clinical developments and therapeutic innovations Clinical study/survey: A recent European glaucoma referral study (Holló G, Schmidl D, Hommer A, for the ReF-GS Investigators. Referral for First Glaucoma Surgery in Europe, the ReF-GS Study. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2019 Jul;29(4):406-416. doi: 10.1177/1120672118791937) may facilitate future endeavours. Goal: To further develop clinical and pathophysiological insights for XFS and to enhance XFG therapy in Europe, involving the EGS Next Generation Partnership members.

Relevant breakthrough in the field
The favourable influence of modern cataract surgery on IOP in XFG has been considered as a therapeutic aspect for several years. Now a detailed meta-analysis has shown that phacoemusification in XFG patients significantly lowers IOP for at least 12 months after surgery 1, and a different single center investigation also showed favorable IOP reduction after cataract surgery plus trabecular washout 2.

1 Benekos K, Katsanos A, Haidich A-B, Dastiridou A, Nikolaidou A, Konstas AGP. The effect of phacoemulsification on the intraocular pressure of patients with open angle glaucoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glaucoma. 2024 Aug 1;33(8):576-586. doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000002386.
2 Vallée R, Meduri E, Vallée J-N, Lallouette A, Haffane Z, Paillard A, Mansouri K, Mermoud K. Predictive biomarkers of intra-ocular pressure decrease after cataract surgery associated with trabecular washout in patients with pseudo exfoliative glaucoma. Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 12;14(1):13567. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-53893-5

The EGS published a book dedicated to Exfoliation Syndrome and Exfoliative glaucoma. The 3rd edition of this book can be download at LINK

“The views expressed of EGS SIGs are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the EGS”

The search for EGS goal of “Paving the Way to Better Glaucoma Care” continues together with Outcome and other EGS Committees as well as SIGs, i.e. how to promote the best possible well-being and minimal glaucoma-induced visual disability in individuals with glaucoma within affordable healthcare systems. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and are not necessarily those of the EGS.