Prevention of blindness in leprosy and the role of the Vision 2020 Programme

Hogeweg, M; Keunen, J. E. E.

doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6701984

Cited by 37 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…2 The incidence of ocular complications of leprosy is known to be influenced by a number of factors: anti -leprosy drug treatment, the type of leprosy, duration of disease and the eye treatment received. 3,4 Ocular lesions in leprosy can be classified into two groups. The first group is potentially sight threatening (PST) and the second group, non sight threatening (NST).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocular leprosy in institutionalized Nigerian patients

Ebeigbe¹,

Kio²

2011

Ghana Medical Journal

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SUMMARYObjective: This study was aimed at presenting the profile of ocular lesions observed in the in-mates on multidrug treatment, of a leprosy rehabilitation centre in Nigeria. Design: Cross-sectional. Method: One hundred patients were selected by systematic random sampling. Sixty-nine had ocular involvement and were the subjects of this study. The age range was 15 to 80 years with a mean age of 51 years. There were 57 males (82.6%) and 12 females (17.4%). The range of duration of treatment was two months to 30 years, with a mean of 15 years. Examination of the anterior and posterior segments of the globe and its adnexa was carried out using Penlight, magnifying loupe and direct ophthalmoscope. Visual acuity was recorded using the Snellen charts. Results: Lepromatous leprosy patients had the greatest incidence of ocular lesions. Ocular lesions were more in patients who have had leprosy for ≥ 15 years. Madarosis (72.5%) and lagophthalmos (29.0%) were the commonest lesions. Corneal involvement was seen in 36.2%. Conjunctivitis in 14.5% . Trichiasis in 10.1% and ectropion in 8.7% . 17.4% were legally blind (VA≤3/60) in the better eye, and 17.4% had cataract in at least one eye. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ocular lesions among males and females, and between patients with Lepromatous and Tuberculoid leprosy. Conclusion: Ocular complications are common and sight threatening in leprosy patients. Regular screening and outreach by eye care providers should be incorporated into leprosy care programmes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ocular leprosy in institutionalized Nigerian patients

Ebeigbe¹,

Kio²

2011

Ghana Medical Journal

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“…This study supported this finding for cataract and glaucoma. Hogeweg and colleagues16 showed that age-related cataract has become the leading cause of blindness in the leprosy population, contrary to the finding of Yang and colleagues5 that leucoma and corneal ulcers are the main causes of blindness in lepers. The provision of an adequate cataract surgical service could nearly halve the burden of blindness in this population.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Prevalence and etiologies of visual handicaps in leprosy patients in the south of Cameroon

Eballe

Owono²,

Book³

et al. 2009

OPTH

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We report on a prospective study undertaken in April 2008, in 11 leper villages of the Southern Cameroon. Our aim was to determine the prevalence and the causes of bilateral blindness, low vision and unilateral blindness in the population of leprosy patients, irrespective of the clinical aspects of the illness.Results:Two hundred thirty-five known and newly diagnosed leprosy patients were examined. These patients included 149 cases (63.4%) of multibacillary leprosy and 86 cases (36.6%) of paucibacillary leprosy. There were 111 case of visual handicap, representing 47.2% of the population. These visual handicap cases were subdivided into 45 cases (19%) of bilateral blindness, 35 cases (15%) of unilateral blindness and 31 cases (13.2%) of low vision.Discussion: The prevalence of visual handicap among leprosy patients in Cameroon is too high. Causes in the majority of cases are age-related degenerative pathologies, and one third of cases are linked to the leprosy mycobacterium.Conclusion:Discovering a cure for ophthalmic pathologies is important in order to provide a better quality of life for this particular population.

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“…For both PB and MB leprosy, Rifampicin is central to the antileprosy drug regimen. 6,7,26 In general, potentially sight-threatening lesions in leprosy patients occur as a consequence of 1. MB cases are treated with supervised monthly doses of 600 mg of Rifampicin and 300 mg of Clofazimine and unsupervised daily doses of 100-mg Dapsone and 50-mg Clofazimine for 12 months.…”

Section: Lepromin Testmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…26,44 Uveitis, miotic pupils, and central cataract are also very common causes of visual impairment in leprosy patients. Agerelated cataract is the leading cause of blindness in leprosy.…”

Section: ' Blindness In Leprosymentioning

confidence: 99%