Abstract.We noticed a tenfold higher incidence of zonular rupture during planned extracapsular cataract extraction (e.c.c.e.) in patients with exfoliation syndrome compared to patients without this disease. The exfoliation glaucoma is an especially bad precondition for e.c.c.e. The postoperative complication rate (toxic lens syndroma, iridocyclitis) is remarkably high when there is an increased fluorescein leakage of the iris vessels before the operation. Also changes of the vitreous as shown by biomicroscopy or ultrasonography in the case of hazy optical media of the eye are a bad precondition. An intracapsular cataract extraction without lens implantation should be considered in cases of two or more worsening preoperative conditions.