A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF OCULAR DISORDERS BETWEEN THOSE WITH ACTIVE DISEASE AND THOSE RELEASED FROM TREATMENT

Abstract

Aim: To compare the magnitude or pattern of the ocular disorders between those with active
disease and those released from treatment.
Methods: This is a cross sectional study to determine the magnitude or pattern of the ocular
disorders between those with active disease and those released from treatment among leprosy
patients in Ossiomo Leprosy Centre in Orhionmwon Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State of
Nigeria. All the patients in this leprosy centre were included in the study. These had been previously
diagnosed by the leprologists in the centre as leprosy cases. The study lasted for five months. The
self-administered questionnaire was used. The adnexae and anterior segment examinations were
done with pen torch and portable hand-held slit lamp. The posterior segment was examined using a
Keeler’s direct ophthalmoscope. Data was statistically analyzed using the SPSS version 16.
Results: A total of 157 patients (48.2%) had active disease comprising 86 males (54.8%) and 71
females (45.2%). One hundred and sixty-nine patients (51.8%) had been released from treatment
(RFT), of which males were 103 (60.9%) while females were 66 (39.1%) with a male to female ratio
of 1.6:1. One hundred and sixty-five patients (56.6%) had ocular symptoms, the most common
symptom was poor vision in both patients with active disease (AC) 29 (18.4%) and released from
treatment group 41(24.2%). Ocular involvement was seen in 119 (6.5%) out of 326 patients. The
commonest ocular lesions in both groups were madarosis 119 (36.5%), impaired corneal sensation
64 (20.9%) entropion with trichiasis 52 (15.9%) and lagophthalmos 44 (13.5%). Overall, 117 (35.9%)
were visually impaired and thirty-eight patients 11.7% were blind. Cataract was the most common
cause of visual impairment and blindness in both active patients 12.1% and RFT group 24.2%.
Conclusion: Ocular lesions continue to persist in patients released from treatment. Leprosy patients
released from treatment continue to be prone to blinding eye disorders. It is recommended that
regular ocular examinations of leprosy patients must continue throughout their lifetime, even after
being released from treatment of leprosy