RESUMEN
AIM: This study aimed to compare the central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and TMS-5 topographer with that taken with the gold standard digital Ultrasonic pachymeter (USP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 61 subjects (122 eyes) were prospectively and consecutively studied in a period from June 2016 to June 2017 at Sudan Eye Centre (SEC), Khartoum, Sudan. Besides the visual and refractive data, measurements of CCT were taken using OCT, TMS-5 and USP. Data analyzed using SPSS software for windows (IBM SPSS 20, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). RESULTS: A statistically significant differences in mean CCT was detected between the three instruments (P < 0.001). USP was found to measure the CCT 29µm thicker than OCT and 22µm thicker than TMS-5 topographer. A significant difference was also found between OCT and TMS-5. OCT found to give the lower values of CCT compared to both USP and TMS-5 topographer. Further analysis showed that the three procedures were significantly and strongly correlated to each other (USP vs OCT, r = 0.77), (USP vs TMS-5, r = 0.78) and (OCT vs TMS-5, r = 0.80). CONCLUSION: Mean central corneal thicknesses (CCT) were comparable among OCT, TMS-5 topographer and the gold standard USP. However, there is a reproducible systematic difference between CCT measurements taken with the three devices. It is important to note in clinical practice, that measurements acquired by these three modalities are not directly interchangeable.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To estimate the proportion of children with trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) and adults with trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the Darfur States of Sudan and to evaluate associated risk factors. METHODS: IDP camps were identified from government census data. We conducted a subanalysis of data collected in these camps during 2014-2015 as part of surveys covering 37 districts of the Darfur States within the Global Trachoma Mapping Project. A random-effects hierarchical model was used to evaluate factors associated with TF in children or TT in adults. RESULTS: Thirty-six IDP camps were represented in the survey data, in which 1926 children aged 1-9 y were examined, of whom 38 (8%) had TF. Poor sanitation, younger age and living in a household that purchased water from a vendor were associated with TF in children aged 1-9 y. Of 2139 individuals examined aged ≥15 y, 16 (0.7%) had TT. TT was strongly independently associated with being older and living alone. CONCLUSION: Trachoma is found at low levels in these camps, but still at levels where intervention is needed. Disease elimination in conflict-related settings presents a unique challenge for the trachoma community, and may require an innovative approach. Understanding how best to undertake trachoma elimination interventions in these areas should be prioritized.