[Ocular foreign bodies: Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects in Lubumbashi: About 98 cases]. / Corps étrangers oculaires : aspects épidémiologiques, clinique et thérapeutique à Lubumbashi : à propos de 98 cas.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of ocular foreign bodies in our practice setting. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study with retrospective data collection at the Sainte Ivonne ophthalmology center in Lubumbashi. We studied 98 medical records of patients seen from January through December 2016 for an ocular foreign body. The parameters used for this study were: age, gender, profession, circumstances of the injury, nature of the foreign body, complications, location, entry site, management and prognosis. RESULTS: The frequency of ocular foreign bodies was 2.4%. We saw predominantly young subjects; the mean age was 33.18±17.98 years. Males predominated, with a frequency of 78.57% of the cases, for a gender ratio of 3.7 men to women. The circumstances of the injuries were primarily work-related (36.46% of cases). The type of foreign body was most commonly wood (41.8% of cases). The FB was corneal in 81.7% of cases, conjunctival (bulbar and tarsal) in 13.3% of cases, and limbal in 5% of cases. Treatment consisted of either simple removal (86.61% of cases) or removal with suturing for deeper foreign bodies (13.27% of cases). The functional results obtained were encouraging; 90.82% of patients recovered well with preservation of visual acuity. The majority of the complications consisted of superficial punctate keratopathy in 27.53% of cases and corneal ulcer in 26.53% of cases. The results of our study are consistent with those in the literature in terms of the frequent corneal location of FB's. CONCLUSION: Ocular foreign bodies represent a situation of non-negligable severity and thus require proper early management in order to prevent progression to visual loss or blindness.

[Frequency of corneal ulcer: Retrospective study of 380 cases carried out in two centers in the DR Congo]. / Fréquence de l'ulcère cornéen à propos de 380 cas : étude rétrospective menée dans deux centres hospitaliers en RD Congo.

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of corneal ulcer in our practice environment. METHODOLOGY: This study was conducted at Saint-Joseph Hospital in Kinshasa and at the Lubumbashi University Clinics in the Democratic Republic of Congo from January 2011 to December 2014. We studied the frequency, demographic and clinical variables of corneal ulcer patients. RESULTS: A total of 380 cases of corneal ulcers were recorded out of 44,722 ophthalmologic consultations performed, with a frequency of 0.85% and a sex ratio ranging from 1.4 to 1.7 men to women. Corneal ulcer was diagnosed in patients of all ages; the mean age was 38.67±18.67 years. Patients with corneal ulcers presented for eye pain (80%), followed by tearing, photophobia, eye redness and blurred vision. The frequency of visual impairment was 10.30%; 2.1% of patients had vision reduced to light perception, and 1% of patients had no light perception. Corneal dystrophy was present in 41.6% of cases. Perforation of the globe and endophthalmitis were observed in 3.4% of cases each. CONCLUSION: Corneal ulceration is one of the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness in our practice environment. An early ophthalmologic consultation at the onset of symptoms and adequate management would improve the visual prognosis of patients.

[Results of trabeculectomy with anti-VGEF therapy in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma secondary to retinal vein occlusion (report of 21 cases followed at Bukavu Eye Clinic from January 1 to December 31th, 2015)]. / Résultats de la trabéculectomie associée aux anti-VGEF dans le traitement du glaucome néovasculaire compliquant les occlusions veineuses rétiniennes (à propos de 21 cas, suivis à la clinique ophtalmologique de Bukavu du 1er janvier au 31 décembre 2015).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of anti-VGEF with trabeculectomy in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma, a severe complication of retinal vein occlusion (RVO). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective case series of consecutive patients with neovascular glaucoma secondary to retinal vein occlusion. All patients underwent panretinal photocoagulation and a mean of 3 anti-VEGF injections prior to trabeculectomy. Ophthalmic parameters were recorded pre- and postoperatively: visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), iris examination, gonioscopy and fundus examination, and as necessary, fluorescein angiography. Minimum follow-up was 9 months. RESULTS: Twenty-one eyes of 21 patients were included. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 38mmHg (31-45mmHg). Postoperatively, the mean IOP was 15mmHg (13-19mmHg). IOP reduction was observed in all eyes after surgery and stayed finally stabilized in nineteen eyes (90.5 %). The rubeosis had definitively disappeared an average of two weeks after injection, but VA decreased in all patients. Nineteen patients (90.5 %) maintained preservation of their eyes. Two eyes underwent evisceration. CONCLUSION: In most cases, trabeculectomy with anti-VGEF halted anterior segment neovascularization. It allowed for surgery on a quiet, normotensive eye, with good postoperative results. While functional rehabilitation was not achieved, the globe was able to be preserved in 90.5 % of cases.

[Diabetic retinopathy in Lubumbashi]. / La rétinopathie diabétique à lubumbashi.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of diabetic retinopathy in Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of Congo). METHODS: Descriptive survey including 369 diabetic patients examined in our department of Ophthalmology of Lubumbashi from May 2006 to March 2008. Rates of glycaemia and blood pressure were noted. All the patients had a complete ophthalmological examination including visual acuity measurement, anterior biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure and fundus examination after pupil dilation. RESULTS: At the time of ocular examination, the mean age of diabetic patients was 57 years (range 16 to 85) with a sex ratio of 1.2 males for 1 female. The frequency of type 1 diabetic patients was 28% and of type 2, 72%. High blood pressure was found in 42% of the patients. The frequency of diabetic patients (all forms included) was 13% and diabetes-induced blindness was 0.27%. In our study, the frequency of diabetic retinopathy increased with the patient's age and the duration of the diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy was more frequently found in adults. We did not find correlation between the level of glycaemia and the incidence of diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSION: From our epidemiological study, diabetic retinopathy is a concern for adult public health. It requires organized screening and early treatment to prevent blindness of those diabetic patients.