Eye disease in newly diagnosed leprosy patients in eastern Nepal

Abstract

To determine the magnitude of eye lesions in newly diagnosed leprosy patients we examined their eyes. The Eastern Leprosy Control Project was supported by The Netherlands Leprosy Relief Association; we used the regional clinic in Biratnagar and 5 mobile clinics in surrounding districts as our survey area. All patients who presented at the clinics over 10 weeks, diagnosed as having untreated leprosy were included. Of the 260 examined patients 97 (37,3%, 95% confidence interval 28,3-40'3%) had an eye lesion; 12/260 patients (4'6%, 95% confidence interval 2,0-7'2%) had sight-threatening lesions (lagophthalmos, iris involvement, corneal anaesthesia), directly related to leprosy; 46 (17,7%) patients were diagnosed as having some degree of cataract; 2 patients were aphakic; 3 patients (1'2%) were blind according to the WHO definition. In this series of new and untreated leprosy patients many eye lesions found are not relevant or leprosy related. There were 9 new patients with lagophthal mos, some too longstanding to treat with steroids. We found 3 patients with iris involvement. The figures we found for eye lesions, sight-threatening lesions and blindness are low when compared to other studies. The number of patients with any grade of cataract is high. The average total of leprosy patients who were blind can be compared with the average total who are blind in the general population.

Ophthalmic findings of newly diagnosed leprosy patients in Istanbul Leprosy Hospital, Turkey

“…Malla et al (1981) reported 69.8% eye involvement of leprosy in newly diagnosed cases, and this rate was reported as 43.4% by Sehgal et al (1976) and 37.0% by Lubbers et al (1994). The most common finding was madarosis in our study (71.4%).…”

“…Nerve beading was also common (47.6%, 95% CI 25.7-70.2%). Corneal involvement in our newly diagnosed leprosy patients was very high compared to Lubbers' (1994) findings.…”

“…The most common finding was madarosis in our study (71.4%). Lubbers et al (1994) reported this rate as 8.5% in their series. Corneal changes were the second most common ocular finding in our series.…”

“…However, only a few studies have been published on ocular findings in newly diagnosed leprosy cases Shields et al 1974;Sehgal et al 1976;Lubbers et al 1994;.…”

Leprosy and the anesthesiologist

“…38 A recent study of newly diagnosed leprosy patients in Nepal found 37% prevalence of eye lesions; 4.6% had sight-threatening lesions such as lagophthalmos, iris involvement and corneal anesthesia. 39 Blindness is usually a sequel to corneal lesions (following corneal anesthesia and lagophthalmos) and complicated cataract. 40 B ONES : Chronic osteomyelitis is a feature of the late stage of lepromatous leprosy.…”