Ocular outcomes of toxoplasmosis in the Amazon–Cerrado transition zone, Brazil: a population-based study

Abstract

Background Eye damage represents one of the gravest outcomes of toxoplasmosis, potentially leading to varying degrees of vision impairment, up to and including blindness. Monitoring ophthalmological indicators in individuals affected by toxoplasmosis, alongside understanding its impact on visual acuity, can motivate the scientific community to advocate for strategies to prevent vision loss associated with toxoplasmosis. Methods This is a retrospective study analysing medical records and clinical documentation from patients at an ophthalmological clinic in a city located at the intersection of the Cerrado and Amazon Forest biomes. Results It was noted that >20% of patients exhibited visual acuity ≤20/200, a condition medically recognized as blindness for the affected eye. Our study highlights a significant portion of individuals experiencing lasting visual impairments due to toxoplasmosis. Conclusions These findings remain obscured by the existing national guidelines, which only mandate reporting for congenital and gestational toxoplasmosis cases, thereby overlooking sporadic manifestations and their consequential effects. The effort to identify ophthalmologic consequences is crucial both for personalized clinical care and for shaping national guidelines for managing toxoplasmosis.