[Prevalence and etiology of amblyopia of children in Yaoundé (Cameroon), aged 5-15 years]. / Prévalence et étiologies de l'amblyopie chez l'enfant camerounais de 5 à 15 ans à Yaoundé

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of amblyopia and identify its causes in a population of children aged 5-15 years in Cameroon. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study examined the files of children aged 5-15 years seen in a private eye clinic in Yaounde from January 2008 through December 2010. The subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including assessment of the best corrected visual acuity on a LogMAR chart, cycloplegic refraction measurements, and an orthoptic examination. The slit-lamp microscope and eye fundus examinations made it possible to rule out organic diseases. Statistical analysis was performed with Epi Info software, version 3.5.3, to analyze the the frequency and laterality of amblyopia according to age, sex, and refractive errors. RESULTS: Twenty-eight of the 314 patients studied had amblyopia, for a frequency of 8.9 % in the study population and 10.3 % in the subjects with ametropia (n = 271). The average age of children with amblyopia was 9.9 + / - 3 years. The frequency of amblyopia was higher among boys, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.3679). In order of frequency, the causes were refractive errors, for 93 % (26/28) of the children, and strabismus for 7 % (2/28). Astigmatism was the most frequent cause of ametropic amblyopia. Amblyopia had an anisometropic origin in 43 % (12/28) of cases. It was unilateral in 39.2 % (11/28) and bilateral in 61 % (17/28) of cases, severe in 18 %, moderate in 18 %, and mild in 64 %. CONCLUSION: Ten percent of the subjects in our series had amblyopia, mainly due to refractive errors. Amblyopia was most frequently bilateral and mild. A systematic ophthalmological examination in childhood could provide early detection and management of refractive errors that cause ocular morbidity.

[Frequency and causes of blindness and visual impairment in schools for the blind in Yaoundé (Cameroon)]. / Fréquence et causes de cécité et de déficiences visuelles dans des écoles de malvoyants à Yaoundé (Cameroun).

AIM/OBJECTIVE: To determine the causes of blindness and visual impairment in students attending schools for the blind in Yaounde (Cameroon) and to estimate their frequencies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined all 56 students at three schools for the blind in Yaoundé from September 15 through October 15, 2006. We collected data about their age, sex, medical and surgical history. Visual acuity was measured to determine their vision status according to the World Health Organization categories for blindness and visual impairment. All subjects underwent an ocular examination. Epi Info 3.5.1. was used for the statistical analysis of age, sex, visual acuity, causes of blindness and visual impairment, and etiologies. RESULTS: Fifty six people were examined: 37 men (66.1%) and 19 women (33.9%). Their mean age was 21.57 ± 10.53 years (min-max: 5-49), and 48.2% were in the 10-19 years age group (n = 27). In all, 87.5% were blind, 7.14% severely visually impaired, and 1.78% moderately visually impaired. The main causes of blindness and visual impairment in our sample were corneal disease (32.14%), optic nerve lesions (26.78%), cataract and its surgical complications (19.64%), retinal disorders (10.71%), glaucoma (8.92%, and malformations of the eyeball (1.78%). Their etiologies included congenital cataracts (19.64%), meningitis/fever (8.92%), glaucoma (7.14%), measles (5.35%), ocular trauma (5.35%), albinism (3.57%), Lyell syndrome (1.8%), and alcohol ingestion (1.8%). Etiology was unknown in 46.42%. Fifty per cent of these causes of blindness and visual impairment were treatable and/or preventable. CONCLUSION: Corneal lesions were the main cause of blindness and visual impairment in our sample. Fifty per cent of the causes found were treatable and/or preventable. Thus, substantial efforts are required to ensure access to better quality specialist ocular care. Furthermore, local authorities should create more centers specialised in the rehabilitation of the visual handicapped.

Indications for surgical removal of the eye in rural areas in cameroon.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the main clinical indications for surgical removal of the eye in rural areas in Cameroon. DESIGN: Retrospective non-comparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 253 patients presenting to the Manna eye clinic Nkongsamba who underwent destructive eye surgery (DES) between January 2006 and December 2010 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Age, gender, occupation, prior medication, visual acuity, operation indications, and type of operation. RESULTS: There were 58.10% (n = 147) men and 41.90% (n = 106) women. Median age was 29 years (interquartile range: 14-69 years); age ranged from 10 to 88 years. A total of 67.19% (n = 170) of participants were farmers and lived in rural zones. In all, 79.05% (n = 200) confessed to have trying a medication before the presentation. Surgical indications included infective causes (perforated corneal ulcer 33.20% (n = 84) and endophthalmitis 18.20% (n = 46)), trauma 17.40% (n = 44), painful blind eyes 11.50% (n = 29), malignancy 10.70% (n = 27), and others 9.10% (n = 23). CONCLUSION: The most common causes of DES in this series could be avoided. Therefore, preventive measures including extensive health education of the public and traditional healers on the risks linked to the use of traditional medicines in ophthalmology and the late presentation of eye disease, quality control of the campaigns that offer free cataract operations in the country.

Central corneal thickness in black Cameroonian ocular hypertensive and glaucomatous subjects.

PURPOSE: To evaluate central corneal thickness (CCT) in a black Cameroonian population of ocular hypertensive and glaucomatous subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective study undertaken with an ultrasonic pachymeter from January 2009 to December 2009 in an eye clinic (INNEL Medical center) in Yaoundé, Cameroon. RESULTS: One hundred subjects (200 eyes) were enrolled in the study. Sixty subjects were glaucomatous (primary open angle glaucoma, POAG group), and 40 ocular hypertensive (OHT group). The mean age of the sample was 52.60 ± 12.23 years. For the whole sample, CCT was 534.71 ± 37.95 µm in the right eye and 533.61 ± 37.67 µm in the left eye, with no statistically significant difference between the 2 eyes (P = 0.446). CCT in the POAG group was 526.30 ± 37.34 µm in the right eye and 524.90 ± 35.92 µm in the left eye. CCT in the OHT group was 547.32 ± 35.71 µm in the right eye and 546.67 ± 36.85 µm in the left eye. There was a statistically significant difference between CCT of the 2 groups (right eye: P = 0.013; left eye: P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Mean CCT of ocular hypertensive subjects was thicker than CCT of glaucomatous ones in our Cameroonian sample. However, in both ocular hypertensive or glaucomatous patients, CCT of black Cameroonians is thinner than that reported in other studies in Caucasian populations.