[Functional outcomes and prognostic factors of firearm-related ocular trauma among soldiers in the conflict zones of Cameroon]. / Résultats fonctionnels et facteurs pronostiques des traumatismes oculaires par armes à feu chez les militaires en zones de conflits au Cameroun.

PURPOSE: To study prognostic factors and functional visual outcomes of soldiers after firearm-related ocular trauma in the conflict zone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out from January 2017 to December 2022 in the ophthalmology departments of three military hospitals. Soldiers with firearm-related ocular trauma were selected. Epidemiological and clinical data, prognostic factors and functional outcomes were studied. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM-SPSS version 23.0 software. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, and a P-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 162 eyes of 136 patients were included. The mean age was 28.93±6.52 years. All patients were male. Improvised firearms were the most frequent cause (77%). Bilateral involvement was observed in 26 patients (19.1%). The mean visual acuity of the affected eyes was 1.66±1.04logMAR on admission. Closed globe injuries predominated (72%). The most frequent anatomical lesions of the globe were hyphema (23.4%) and vitreous hemorrhage (19.7%). The mean final visual acuity was 1.38±1.17logMAR, and blindness was observed in 50% of eyes. Factors influencing final visual acuity were type of trauma, initial visual acuity, hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Blindness due to firearm-related eye injuries in the conflict zone of Cameroon is common. Wearing protective glasses or visors might reduce its frequency.

[Correlation between refraction and axial length in Albinos]. / Corrélation entre la réfraction et la longueur axiale du sujet Albinos.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between refraction and ocular axial length in albinos. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, analytical study was carried out from June to November 2021 at the Central Hospital of Yaounde (Cameroon), which included consenting albino subjects aged over 15years. All subjects underwent visual acuity testing, axial length measurements and objective refraction under cycloplegia. RESULTS: We included 51 albino subjects. The mean age was 26.06±9.47years, and the sex ratio was 0.5. Type 2 oculocutaneous albinism (OCA2) was predominant, representing 82.4% of cases. The mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.93±0.25 logMAR, and the most common ametropia was myopic astigmatism (52.9%). The mean axial length was 24.65±2.54mm with extremes of 21.54 and 30.33mm. Eyes with myopia and myopic astigmatism had significantly longer axial lengths than those with hyperopic and mixed astigmatism. A strong, significant negative correlation (r=-0.93; P˂0.001) between the spherical component of the refraction and axial length was found. CONCLUSION: The spherical component of the refraction decreases significantly with increasing axial length in albinos.

[Influence of tropical endemic limboconjunctivitis on the distribution of astigmatism in a black pediatric population: A hospital-based case-control study]. / Influence de la limbo-conjonctivite endémique des tropiques sur la distribution de l'astigmatisme dans une population d'enfants mélanodermes camerounais : étude hospitalière cas-témoins.

PURPOSE: To study the influence of tropical endemic limboconjunctivitis (TELC) on the distribution of astigmatism in a population of black children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We matched two groups of 36 children between the ages of 3 and 15 by age and sex. Group 1 consisted of children with TELC, and group 2 was made up of controls. All underwent cycloplegic refraction. The studied variables were age, sex, type and stage of TELC, spherical equivalent, absolute cylinder value and clinical type of astigmatism. The odds ratio was used to quantify the link between TELC and astigmatism. We used the Chi2 test for the comparison of qualitative variables and the Student T test for the comparison of the means of quantitative variables. The threshold of significance of the differences was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Astigmatism was more common in children with TELC (61.97% vs. 37.5%), (OR=1.53; 95% CI 1.08-2.15; P=0.012). The history of TELC was associated with an increased risk of with-the-rule astigmatism (OR 1.91; 95%CI (1.23-2.97). CONCLUSION: Pediatric TELC is frequently associated with the with-the-rule astigmatism in our practice setting.

[Efficacy and tolerance of Latanoprost given as a first intention in the treatment of primitive open angle glaucoma in African melanoderm]. / Efficacité et tolérance du Latanoprost donné en première intention dans le traitement du glaucome primitif a angle ouvert chez le mélanoderme africain.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reduction in IOP and ocular symptoms in patients newly diagnosed with POAG and treated with latanoprost as monotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A multicentric, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. We included adults newly diagnosed with POAG. All patients received one drop of preserved latanoprost 0.005% in each eye every night for 12 weeks. Changes in IOP and ophthalmic signs and symptoms were assessed during and at the end of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 524 patients were included, with a participation rate of 93% at 12 weeks. The mean age was 52.79±17.33 years, and the sex ratio M/F was 1.39. At inclusion, the mean IOP was 21.68±9.72mmHg. After 2 weeks of treatment, the mean IOP was 15.49±5.81mmHg, for a reduction of 28.55%. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean IOP was 13.16±3.54mmHg, for a reduction of 39.30%. The main symptom recorded was a gritty foreign body sensation, the frequency of which was 4.72% at W2 and 2.45% at W12. The main sign was hyperemia (4.33% at W2 and 1.84% at W12). CONCLUSION: Latanoprost given as first-line monotherapy in POAG in blacks considerably reduces IOP. The incidence of side effects remains low; it is higher at the start of treatment.

Rhipicephalus microplus and its vector-borne haemoparasites in Guinea: further species expansion in West Africa.

Rhipicephalus microplus is an ixodid tick with a pantropical distribution that represents a serious threat to livestock. West Africa was free of this tick until 2007, when its introduction into Benin was reported. Shortly thereafter, further invasion of this tick species into other West African countries was identified. In this paper, we describe the first detection of R. microplus in Guinea and list the vector-borne haemoparasites that were detected in the invading and indigenous Boophilus species. In 2018, we conducted a small-scale survey of ticks infesting cattle in three administrative regions of Guinea: N`Zerekore, Faranah, and Kankan. The tick species were identified by examining their morphological characteristics and by sequencing their COI gene and ITS-2 gene fragments. R. microplus was found in each studied region. In the ticks, we found the DNA of Babesia bigemina, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma platys, and Ehrlichia sp. The results of this study indicate that R. microplus was introduced into Guinea in association with cows from Mali and/or the Ivory Coast.

[Retinal vein occlusions treated by intravitreal bevacizumab injections at the Hospital of Instruction, Application and Reference of the Armed Forces of Yaoundé]. / Occlusions veineuses rétiniennes traitées par injections intra-vitréennes de bévacizumab à l'hôpital d'instruction, d'application et de référence des armées de Yaoundé.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the anatomical and functional results of intravitreal bevacizumab injections in retinal vein occlusions at the Hospital of Instruction, Application and Reference of the Armed Forces of Yaoundé. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective and descriptive study was conducted from October 2016 to August 2017 at the Hospital of Instruction, Application and Reference of the Armed Forces of Yaoundé. All eyes with edematous or mixed retinal vein occlusion were treatment naive and received at least 3 intravitreal injections spaced at least 28 days apart of bevacizumab 25mg/ml at a dose of 0.05ml per session according to the strategy of 3 injections or "3 I". At least 3 months after the final injection, visual acuity and macular thickness, assessed by optical coherence tomography, were analyzed with the IBM-SPSS 22 software. The Student's test was used to compare means, with a significance P<5%. RESULTS: We included nineteen eyes of 18 patients with a mean age of 62.83±9.57 years. The male to female sex ratio was 0.8. Branch vein occlusion was predominant in 14 (73.68%) eyes. The edematous type was noted in 17 (89.5%) eyes. Serous retinal detachment was present in 6 (31.6%) eyes. The mean number of injections was 4.2±1.2. The mean baseline visual acuity changed from +0.9 Log MAR (40 ETDRS) to +0.6 Log MAR (55 ETDRS) at 6 months, while the mean macular thickness went from 550.16±180µm to 338.58±127µm, with statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab injections proved to be effective in the management of edematous retinal vein occlusions in our practice setting despite the lack of market authorization for this indication.

[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.

Connaissances et attitudes relatives à la cataracte dans une population rurale au Mali

But. Évaluer les connaissances et les attitudes dans une population rurale au Mali en ce qui concerne la cataracte. Patients et méthodes. Nous avons mené une étude transversale descriptive pendant une période de 10 jours au cours d'une campagne de soins ophtalmologiques dans la localité de Baguinéda, commune rurale située à 30 km de Bamako (Mali). Etaient inclus, les personnes âgées de 16 ans et plus. Les questions relatives aux connaissances et aux attitudes vis-à-vis de la cataracte leur étaient posées. Les connaissances et les attitudes devant une cataracte ont été corrélées aux paramètres comme l'âge, le sexe, la profession et le niveau d'instruction. Résultats. Au total, 552 personnes ont participé à l'étude. Leur âge moyen était de 46,1 ans ± 16,5 et le sex-ratio Homme/Femme de 1,38. Près de la moitié (45,65%) était sans emploi et la majorité (62,7%) analphabète. Dans 83,7 % de cas, les patients avaient des connaissances justes sur la cataracte. Vingt-quatre (4,3%) patients savent que le traitement est chirurgical et 242 (43,8%) pensent que le traitement est traditionnel. L'âge, le sexe et le niveau d'instruction étaient significativement liés à la connaissance de la cataracte. Conclusion. la connaissance de la cataracte dans la localité de Baguineda, en milieu rural au Mali est satisfaisante tandis que les attitudes sur sa prise en charge restent insatisfaisantes. Les stratégies de sensibilisation sont indispensables afin de réduire le taux de cécité au sein de ces populations défavorisées

Expériences visuelles au cours de la chirurgie de la cataracte sous anesthésie péribulbaire

But. Décrire les expériences visuelles des patients au cours de la chirurgie de la cataracte sous anesthésie péribulbaire. Patients et méthodes. Nous avons mené une étude transversale pendant une période d'un mois au CHU-IOTA (Bamako). Étaient inclus les adultes opérés de la cataracte sous anesthésie péribulbaire sans sédation. Les patients étaient interrogés 1 à 4 heures après l'intervention sur les sensations visuelles de l'œil opéré, durant la chirurgie. Résultats. Deux cent sept (207) patients (105 hommes et 102 femmes) ont été retenus. Leur âge moyen était de 62,94 ans ± 12,5. L'acuité visuelle préopératoire des patients était comprise entre 1/10 et la perception lumineuse. Cent cinquante-huit (76,3%) patients ont rapporté des phénomènes visuels observés pendant l'intervention. Il s'agissait de la lumière (rapportée par 76,3% de patients), des couleurs (31,9%), des instruments (22,7%), des doigts du chirurgien (25,1%), de l'eau (27,1%) et des mouvements vagues (19,8%). Parmi eux, 38% étaient effrayés par ces sensations visuelles. Conclusion. Plus de trois-quarts de patients ont des expériences visuelles au cours de la chirurgie de la cataracte sous anesthésie péribulbaire. Certains sont effrayés par ces phénomènes visuels. Il est important de faire un counseling préopératoire approprié afin de réduire le stress des patients

Profil des traumatismes oculo - palpébraux en zone d'insécurité à l'extrême Nord du Cameroun

Buts. Établir le profil épidémiologique et clinique des traumatisés oculaires et ou palpébraux victimes de la guerre qui oppose l'État du Cameroun à la secte terroriste Boko Haram dans la région de l'Extrême Nord. Patients et Méthodes. Nous avons mené une étude transversale descriptive de Janvier 2015 à Juin 2016 sur les lieux de conflit et à l'Hôpital d'Instruction, d'Application et de Référence des Armées de Yaoundé (HIARAY) de niveau 3. Les paramètres étudiés aussi bien pour les civils que pour les militaires portaient sur les données épidémiologiques et cliniques, les mécanismes lésionnels, la fonction visuelle. Pour les militaires, nous avons aussi évalué l'impact professionnel. Résultats. Pendant 18 mois, 24 cas de traumatismes oculaires et ou palpébraux ont été observés pour 29 yeux atteints. Quinze (62,50%) cas étaient des militaires et 9 (37,50%) des civils. La moyenne d'âge était de 29,29 ± 5,31 (extrêmes : 18 à 58) ans et le sex ratio de 7 H/F. Seize yeux étaient droits avec une acuité visuelle moyenne sans correction supérieure à 3/10 et 13 gauches à 4/10. Les principales lésions retrouvées étaient : les plaies palpébrales, 10 (34,48%) cas ; la cataracte, 5 (17,24%) ; les éclatements du globe, 5 (17,24%) ; les hémorragies intra oculaires, 5 (17,24%) ; les plaies de cornée, 5 (17,24%) et les corps étrangers intra oculaires, 4 (13,79%). Les explosions de mines artisanales (21/29), les accidents de circulation (06/29) et les armes à feu (02/29) étaient les mécanismes responsables. Dix-neuf personnes avaient une atteinte unilatérale et cinq une atteinte bilatérale. Le taux de cécité monoculaire était évalué à 37,92%, binoculaire à 6,89% soit 44,82% au total et celui de malvoyance à 62,06%. Les 15 militaires atteints ont été réformés. Conclusion. Les traumatismes oculaires en zone de conflit sont graves et dramatiques pour les personnes atteintes. Leur réparation par le chirurgien ophtalmologue est par ailleurs difficile. Des matériels de protection à type de casque avec visière et des lunettes balistiques permettraient d'en réduire la fréquence