title: Ocular findings in children with homozygous sickle cell disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study is to determine the frequency of ocular manifestations in Congolese children with homozygous sickle cell disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six children with homozygous sickle cell disease were examined for ocular abnormalities between March 1 and August 31, 1998. The ages of children ranged from two to 18 years. Routine ophthalmic examination included measurement of visual acuity, inspection of the adnexa and cornea, refraction, silt-lamp examination and dilated ophthalmoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ocular abnormalities were found in 47 (71%) children of 66 subjects. Ophthalmologic abnormalities included conjunctival signs (32%), retinal vascular tortuosity (29%) and dilatation (26%), AV crossing (29%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ocular findings in this study were similar to those previously published in Africa, which showed a low frequency of retinal changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Kinshasa.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaimbo Wa Kaimbo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ngiyulu Makuala
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dralands
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Missotten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution