Ocular findings in leprosy patients in Nepal in the era of multidrug therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Detailed ophthalmic evaluation was performed to determine the prevalence of ocular complications among leprosy patients on multidrug therapy and those released from multidrug treatment.


METHODS
Observational case series.


METHODS
Leprosy patients at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital from April 1, 2001, through September 30, 2002, underwent detailed ophthalmic evaluation including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated funduscopy, and applanation tonometry.


RESULTS
We evaluated 58 leprosy patients. A majority (72%) was receiving treatment for multibacillary leprosy; 14% belonged to posttreatment multibacillary and paucibacillary groups. Ocular involvement was found in 57% of patients. In the multibacillary group, 55% had ocular involvement, which was more than double that found in the paucibacillary group (25%), although this finding was not statistically significant (P =.187). Among patients with ocular complications, 48% had visual disability and another 45% had threatened vision; 9% met World Health Organization guidelines for blindness. Uveitis and its complications were the predominant causes of visual disability (88%).


CONCLUSIONS
Ocular complications and visual disability are high among leprosy patients in Nepal even after completing multidrug therapy.
Nepal
Bhagavat P
BP
BP Koirala Lions Center for Ophthalmic Studies, PO Box 8750, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Shrestha
Ujjowala D
UD
D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
D007917:Leprostatic Agents