Pseudoexfoliation  is a disease of the eye where microscopic, flaky, whitish material - resembling dandruff - is deposited primarily on the pupil and iris of  the eye, on the front surface of the lens of the eye, and in the  trabecular meshwork of the eye. The source of the pseudoexfoliation  flakes has not been fully identified, but there is evidence that the pseudoexfoliation material leaks out from blood vessels that supply the  eye, and then deposits and accumulates in various parts of the front  part of the eye. The pseudoexfoliation flakes that deposit on the pupil  and iris can damage the various muscles of the iris and prevent the  pupil from dilating properly during eye exams. Additionally, since  dilation of the pupil is an important first step of cataract surgery,  pseudoexfoliation of the iris and pupil often interferes with and  complicates the cataract surgery procedure. The pseudoexfoliation flakes  that deposit on the lens of the eye can be a problem during cataract  surgery since they can cause the cataract and/or intraocular lens  implant (IOL) to loosen inside the eye during surgery, sometimes  resulting in serious cataract surgery complications. The pseudoexfoliation flakes that deposit on the trabecular meshwork of the  eye can block aqueous humor fluid from exiting out of the eye, causing a  buildup of pressure inside the eye. This is called ocular hypertension,  and can advance to pseudoexfoliation glaucoma when the increased eye  pressure damages the optic nerve of the eye and causes loss of vision. 

The  best way to determine if a person has pseudoexfoliation of the eye, is  to be examined by an eye doctor using a slit lamp - a routine piece of  equipment that all eye doctors use. The pseudoexfoliation material can  be easily seen on the pupil and lens of the eye, if looked for properly.  Since pseudoexfoliation is usually found above age 60, it is very  important to have eyes examined at least annually to look for  pseudoexfoliation as well as other eye diseases. There are no early  symptoms of pseudoexfoliation or pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, so annual exams are important. Pseudoexfoliation frequently occurs in one eye  only, but in many people the second eye develops pseudoexfoliation years  later. 

The  exact cause of pseudoexfoliation is not known. However, there is  increasing scientific,  medical evidence that pseudoexfoliation is a  systemic disease affecting the entire body, since microscopic  pseudoexfoliation material has been found in numerous body organs including the liver, heart, skin, kidneys and other tissues. There is  increasing evidence that pseudoexfoliation may be associated with heart  attacks, strokes and possibly dementia. In recent years, discoveries  have been made which indicate a possible genetic predisposition for  developing pseudoexfoliation, but there are currently no readily  available genetic tests or blood tests for pseudoexfoliation. The  incidence of pseudoexfoliation varies by country and ethnicity, but in  some areas of the world over 10% of people over age 60 have pseudoexfoliation.