[Characteristics of post-traumatic blindness at the Yaoundé Army Training, Application and Referral Hospital]. / Caractéristiques de la cécité post-traumatique à l'hôpital d'instruction, d'application et de référence des armées de Yaoundé.

PURPOSE: To study the characteristics of blindness after ocular trauma. METHODOLOGY: In this retrospective descriptive study, we considered the files of patients who had consulted the service for ocular trauma between January 2008 and December 2014. Included were patients of both sexes and all ages whose monocular or binocular vision with best optical correction was strictly below 1/20. Statistical analysis was performed with EPI Info version 3.5.4 software, and the Chi2 test was used with statistically significant values of P≤0.05. RESULTS: Over the period from 2008 to 2014, we found 100 cases of blindness (101 eyes) resulting from 591 cases of ocular trauma, for a frequency of 16.92 %. Among them, 75 men with a median age of 35.5±19.8 years. Children younger than 15 years accounted for 11 % of the series. The blindness was monocular in 99 % and binocular in 1 %, distributed as follows: 55 cases (55 %) category V, 27 (27 %) category IV and 18 (18 %) category III according to the CIM-10. In the anterior segment, cataract was responsible for category III and IV blindness, while in the posterior segment, retinal detachment was found in all categories. In all age ranges irrespective of sex, category V blindness was most frequent. CONCLUSION: Blindness following ocular trauma is frequent in our context. It can be avoided. Consequently, it is essential to put in place strategies for prevention of ocular trauma via education of the population through public awareness campaigns.

[What is the cost of treatment of diabetic retinopathy by argon laser in Yaoundé?] / Quel coût pour le traitement de la rétinopathie diabétique par laser argon à Yaoundé ?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the total cost of treatment of diabetic retinopathy by argon laser for a patient when indicated. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Prospective cross-sectional and descriptive survey, carried out in the angiography and laser center of the Yaoundé Central Hospital from October 2014 to October 2015. All consecutive diabetic patients with retinopathy and suitable indication for argon laser treatment were included. The costs related to the initial and final fluorescein angiography, the appointment for follow-up, round-trip transportation costs from the patient's home and the cost of laser treatment were included. RESULTS: Included were 43 (13 %) patients out of 330 with diabetic retinopathy. The mean age was 55.67±8.40years. There were 25 women (58.1 %) and 18 men (41.9 %) for a M/F ratio of 0.7. Unemployed patients were represented by 28 (65.1 %) versus 15 employed (34.9 %). Twenty-seven patients (62.8 %) were self-pay for all their expenses, 14 (32.6 %) were assisted by their families, and 2 (4.6 %) were insured. On average, the total expenditure was 86002±67197 f CFA per eye, corresponding to 131±102 euros with an exchange rate of 1 euro for 656 f CFA. CONCLUSION: The cost of treatment of diabetic retinopathy by argon laser is high, mostly increased by the additional costs related to transportation in our area. The creation of satellite centers in the 10 regions of Cameroon would reduce these costs.