ABSTRACT.Purpose: To describe and compare the preoperative characteristics of Greek patients with exfoliation glaucoma (EXG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods: We prospectively investigated the preoperative features of 100 consecutive patients undergoing filtration surgery for either EXG, or POAG. We compared 74 patients with EXG and 26 with POAG. Results: EXG patients were older (68.2 vs 62.4 years; p∞0.05) and more often from the countryside (73%). Both glaucomas showed a preponderance for males, similar frequencies of positive family history and systemic disorders, with the exception of diabetes which was more common in POAG (19.2% vs 5.4%). The first IOP measurement, before treatment, was significantly higher in EXG (40.4 mm Hg) compared with POAG (33.9 mm Hg). Despite a shorter duration of medical therapy (25 vs 65 months) and more topical drugs EXG patients exhibited higher mean preoperative IOP (36 vs 27.8 mm Hg for POAG; p∞0.05). EXG patients had significantly worse visual acuity than POAG (0.4 vs 0.6; p∞0.05) and worse compliance to medical therapy (48%) compared to POAG (33%). Conclusion: Significant differences in preoperative features distinguish EXG from POAG.