[Congenital anophthalmias: a case of trisomy 13]. / Anophtalmies congénitales: à propos d'un cas de trisomie 13.

Congenital anophthalmia is the result of a lack of development or regression of the primary optic vesicle in utero. It can be isolated or associated with other malformations and can be unilateral or, rarely, bilateral. Different etiologies are usually found such as chromosomal aberrations, gene mutations, toxic agents, and infections. We report a case of bilateral congenital anophthalmia in a setting of a polymalformative syndrome with microcephalia and bilateral lip cleft. Karyotype studies confirmed trisomy 13 known as Patau's syndrome. Trisomy 13 is a rare lethal chromosomal aberration frequently responsible for uni- or bilateral microphthalmia and occasionally for anophthalmia.

[Fundus albipunctatus incidentally discovered in a black African man]. / Fundus albipunctatus de découverte fortuite chez un adulte mélanoderme africain.

Fundus albipunctatus is a recessive autosomal disease classified as one of the causes of congenital stationary night blindness. It is characterized by early hemeralopia beginning in infancy. We report the incidental discovery of the disease in a 23-year-old black African man with late hemeralopia onset. During the 4 years of follow-up, visual acuity, ERG, and visual field remained normal. We underline the possibility of late hemeralopia onset and discuss the possible progressive features of this disease. Progression may be conditioned by the mutation of the RDH5 gene, which codes for retinol dehydrogenase-5.

[Panophthalmitis and results of HIV tests. Experience at the Cocody University Hospital Center in Abidjan, Ivory Coast]. / Panophtalmie et résultats des tests pour le VIH. Expérience du CHU de Cocody à Abidjan, en Côte d'Ivoire.

PURPOSE: We assessed the frequency of panophthalmitis in HIV-infected patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven cases of panophthalmitis were screened out of 420 hospitalized patients of ophthalmology department of Cocody Teaching University Hospital, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, from January to October 1995. HIV-tests were performed in 11 patients. RESULTS: Mean age was 40 years (from 10 months to 75 years). Four patients (36.4% of tested patients) were infected by HIV. Contrary to seronegative patients, panophthalmitis cases in HIV-infected patients occurred spontaneously without any apparent exogenous cause (foreign bodies). Most of patients were young (from 18 to 47 years old). CONCLUSION: We draw the attention of eye specialists of the frequency of panophthalmitis without exogenous apparent cause in HIV patients. It would be interesting to perform a transvitreal needle biopsy in order to search for intraocular toxoplasmosis that should be the first cause.

[Prevalence of primary chronic open-angle glaucoma in Ivory Coast]. / Prévalence du glaucome chronique primitif à angle ouvert en Côte d'Ivoire.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine and analyze the rate of chronic open-angle glaucoma in Côte d'Ivoire. METHODS: The prevalence of chronic glaucoma (POAG) was retrospectively evaluated in a population of 33,000 patients attending a private clinic including 24,751 black subjects and 8,249 white subjects. Patients with a cup/disc superior to 0.5 and an abnormal Goldmann's kinetic perimetry, associated with (POAG with "elevated" pressure or not (POAG with normal pressure) with an intraocular hypertension (intra ocular pressure superior to 21 mmHg) were distinguished. RESULTS: Prevalence was from 2.1% for the black subjects and 0.75% for the white subjects. Mean age was 46.4 +/- 12.5 years for blacks subjects versus 52.8 +/- 12.2 years for white subjects. This prevalence increased with age in both populations. Out of 571 cases of POAG, 465 (81.4%) were previously known and 450 of them were treated; 38.5% of the POAG cases had normal pressure. CONCLUSION: Primary open-angle glaucoma is a major health care problem emphasizing the need for detection and prevention in Côte d'Ivoire.

[Severe ocular injuries in children at the UHC of Cocody in Abidjan in 1994]. / Traumatismes oculaires graves de l'enfant au CHU de Cocody d'Abidjan en 1994.

PURPOSE: The aim was to analyze favoring factors of childhood serious eye injuries in order to prevent them. METHODS: Children (age < or = 15 years) admitted at the university hospital of Cocody in Abidjan (the Ivory Coast) for serious eye injuries from January 1st to December 31st, 1994 were screened. Following parameters were noted: age, sex, advice delay, trauma circumstances, initial state and mean term course of visual acuity and eye injuries. RESULTS: Forty-nine children were hospitalized for serious eye injuries during this period. There were twice as many boys as girls. Mean age was 8.5 years. Only 10 per cent of patients consulted before the 6th hour. In 43 per cent of cases, injuries happened during play. Most often things used were metal (43 per cent) and vegetables (35 per cent). Most frequent eye injuries were contusions (10 cases) and eye-ball wounds (36 cases). Treatment was medical alone 11 times and medico-surgical 38 times. At mean term, 25 per cent of monocular blindness and 45 per cent of monocular blindness and 45 per cent of monocular visual acuity decline to 1/10 were noted. CONCLUSION: These findings point out the necessity to prevent eye injuries by informing teachers and parents who must exclude children from dangerous play which can injure eyes.

Les tumeurs cranio-orbitaires dans le service d'ophtalmologie du CHU de Cocody

Les auteurs rapportent une serie de tumeurs orbitaires et soulignent les difficultes diagnostiques et les problemes therapeutiques qu'elles soulevent

Glaucome a pression normale: probleme diagnostique

Les auteurs rapportent une serie de glaucomes a pression normale et soulignent les problemes diagnostiques qu'ils soulevent