title: Ocular findings among thalassemia patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims at studying the ophthalmologic status in a group of thalassemia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four thalassemia patients were randomly selected and underwent an ophthalmologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visual acuity (VA) was affected in 13 patients and retinal pigment epithelial changes were detected in 21 patients. Decrease in VA was found to be significantly associated with type of thalassemia (P < .05) and having splenectomy (P = .05). Retinal pigment epithelium changes, conversely, were significantly associated with type of iron chelation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occurrence of ophthalmologic problems in Lebanese thalassemic patients is common. These patients, especially those with severe anemia, should be screened for such complications. However, the results were not conclusive on whether these complications are attributable to the anemia, the iron overload, or a side effect of the iron chelating agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. ataher@aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taher
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bashshur
authors.forename: Wael A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Shamseddeen
authors.forename: Raja-Elie E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Abdulnour
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aoun
authors.forename: Suzann
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koussa
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014792:Visual Acuity