Clinical observation of the ocular complications in Leprosy patients

Lee, Yong Joon; Lee, Joon Hyung

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine the prevalence of ocular complications in leprosy patients.
METHODS
Screening ocular examinations were performed in 572 leprosy patients, who resided in National sorokdo hospital from May to October, 2011.
RESULTS
Overall prevalence of ocular complications was 87.1%. Ocular complication was significantly associated with increasing age. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of the ocular complication among males and females. Lepromatous leprosy patients had the greatest prevalence of ocular lesion.
CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant rate of ocular complications in leprosy patients in the National sorokdo hospital, and had a potentially sight-threatening ocular complication. Health professionals need to be new eye symptoms and signs require prompt ophthalmology review to prevent avoidable blindness, due to the life-long risk of sight-threatening ocular complications.