Prevalence of keratoconus in Ghana: A hospital-based study of tertiary eye care facilities.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of keratoconus in tertiary eye care facilities in Ghana. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In this hospital-based retrospective cohort study, medical records of patients from tertiary/referral eye care facilities in Ghana were reviewed. Included in the study were records of individuals who visited the eye care facilities and were diagnosed of keratoconus within the period of January 2016 to December 2019 inclusive. Data on patients' demographics, severity of keratoconus, mode of diagnosis, treatment, and visual acuity outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: Out of the total of 142,209 records reviewed, 75 patients were diagnosed of keratoconus in at least one eye (127 eyes; 86.8% bilateral cases), representing a prevalence estimate of 53 per 100000 (95% confidence interval (CI): 41 to 65 per 100000). The mean ± SD age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 21.1 ± 9.5 years (66.2% males). The mean ± SD keratometry in keratoconus patients was 52.1 ± 7.0: majority (76.5%) of the cases were moderate to severe keratoconus. The main primary treatment regimen was corneal transplant (58.8%) followed by spectacles (25.0%), crosslinking (8.8%) and rigid contact lens (7.3%). There was a significant association between post-treatment visual acuity outcomes and treatment type (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study represents the first prevalence estimate of keratoconus in Ghana. The prevalence of keratoconus estimated in our study is lower than that reported in countries with tropical climates. This could be due to lower uptake of referrals, underdiagnosis and/or misdiagnosis of the condition in lower-level health facilities.

Evaluation of postoperative refractive error correction after cataract surgery.

Suboptimal cataract surgery outcomes remain a challenge in most developing countries. In Ghana, about 2 million people have been reported to be blind due to cataract with about 20% new cases being recorded yearly. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative correction of refractive errors after cataract surgery in a selected eye hospital in Ashanti Region, Ghana. This was a retrospective study where medical records of patients (aged 40-100) who reported to an eye hospital in Ghana from 2013-2018 were reviewed. Included in the study were patients aged ≥40 years and patients with complete records. Data on patient demographics, type of surgery, intra-ocular lens (PCIOL) power, availability of biometry, postoperative refraction outcomes, pre- and postoperative visual acuity were analyzed. Data of two hundred and thirteen eyes of 190 patients who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Descriptive analysis and Chi-square test were carried out to determine the mean, median, standard deviation and relevant associations. The mean ± SD age was 67.21±12.2 years (51.2% were females). Small Incision Cataract Surgery (99.5%) with 100% IOL implants was the main cataract surgery procedure in this study. Pre-operative biometry was performed for 38.9% of all patients on their first eye surgery and 41.5% for second eye surgeries. About 71% eyes in this study were blind (presenting VA<3/60) before surgery; 40.4% had post-operative VA <3/60. Pre-existing ocular comorbidities discovered post- surgery, attributed to suboptimal visual outcomes. More than half (55.3%) of patients did not undergo postoperative refraction due to loss to follow-up. Year of surgery (p = .017), follow up visits< 2months (p < .0001) and discovered comorbidity post-surgery (p = .035) were the factors significantly associated with postoperative refraction. Myopia and compound myopic astigmatism were the dominant refractive error outcomes. The timing of post-operative refraction had a significant effect on postoperative refraction done. These findings indicate a clinically meaningful significance between completion of postoperative care and postoperative refraction done. Consequently, with settings in most developing countries, where less biometry is done, it is appropriate that post-operative refractive services are encouraged and done earlier to enhance the patients' expectations while increasing cataract surgery patronage.

Contact lens complications among wearers in Ghana.

PURPOSE: Contact lens (CL) practice is relatively new in Ghana; a country where the geographical location (warm climate) lends itself to harsh environmental conditions (high humidity) known to influence CL wear. Recent studies suggest an increase in CL wear (corrective and cosmetic), yet, there are no studies about CL-related complications. This study sought to determine the complications associated with CL wear in Ghana. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. The medical records of contact lens wearers from five CL clinics in the two largest metropolises in Ghana, Accra and Kumasi, were reviewed. Included in the study were records of individuals who visited the clinics within the period of 2013-2016. Data on patients with contact lens-related complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of CL complications was 29.06 %. The mean ±â€¯SD age of patients with CL complications was 35 ±â€¯15 years. Contact lens complications were more common in females (52.90 %). The majority of complications were in soft contact lens wearers (82.35 %). Refractive error correction was the most common indication for CL wear (61.76 %) among those with complications, followed by keratoconus (14.71 %), scarred blind eye (14.71 %), corneal ulcer (5.88 %) and anterior staphyloma (2.94 %). Contact lens complications reported were giant papillary conjunctivitis (41.18 %), corneal infiltrates (23.53 %), bacterial keratitis (14.71 %), corneal abrasion (11.76 %), dry eye (5.88 %) and corneal oedema (2.94 %). The causes of CL complication were inappropriate lens cleaning (29.41 %), poor hygiene (23.53 %), overnight contact lens wear (17.64 %), poor lens fit (14.71 %) and reaction to contact lens solution (14.71 %). CONCLUSION: Contact lens complications were more common in soft contact lens wearers in Ghana. Giant papillary conjunctivitis was the most common contact lens complication reported. Adherence to CL wear care regimen and good personal hygiene may prevent the majority of CL complications observed in Ghana.