Clinical Analysis of the Ocular Complications in Leprosy.

Lee, Hong Soo

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1979;20(3):355-362.
Published online March 1, 1979.

Clinical Analysis of the Ocular Complications in Leprosy.

Hong Soo Lee

Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam University, Medical School, Kwangju, Korea.

나환자의 나안질환에 대한 임상적 고찰

이홍수 ( Hong Soo Lee )

Abstract

The ocular complications occurring in leprosy has been studied in 1, 110 lepers, who had been admitted to National Leprosy Hospital in Sorokdo. Ophthalmologic examination employed included visual acuity and slit lamp biomicroscopy. Analyses were done on the age. sex, and type of these patients. The results were as follows: 1) Of the 1, 110 patients. 588 were male (53.0%) and 522 female (47.0%). The type of leprosy was L type in 870 (78.4%), T type in 130 (11.7%), and B type in 110 (9.9%). The positive bacilli index (1.4%) could be demonstrated only in L type patients. 2) The age distribution showed that 380 were in the seventh decade (34.2%), 375 the sixth decade (33.8%), 165 the fifth decade (14.9%), 137 the eighth decade (12. 3%), 42 the fourth decade (3.8%), 7 the ninth decade, and only 4, under the fourth decade. Peak age group was therefore, in the seventh decade. 3) Overall incidence of the blind eyes(below FC/1m) was 45.1%. They were predominantly L type and older age groups of the sixth and seventh decade, indicating a rising tendency according to advance in age. 4) The incidence of the eyes with visual impairment (with acuities of 0.02 to 0.3) was 31. 7%. Mostly they were B type and the age group of the eighth decade. 5) The ocular diseases were found in 97.0% of all cases, most of which were L type. 6) The ocular complications in leprosy, in order of frequency, were corneal diseases (85.9%), madarosis (80.5%), lagophthalmos (64.1%), chronic anterior uveitis (46.1%), ectropion(43.8%), complicated cataract (41.0%), phthisis bulbi (16.7%), and aphakia (11.0%).