title: [Severe ametropia in children in Lomé (Togo)].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the features of severe ametropia (refractive errors, including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism) in children in general practice in Lomé.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study based on records of patients aged 5-16 years seen in a private clinic in Lomé from 1 January, 2001, to 31 December, 2010. We analyzed subjective refraction after automated refraction or retinoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1303 cases of ametropia in children, 58 cases were severe, for a frequency of 4.5%. The mean age of these patients was 12.7 years. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.7. Among these severe cases, astigmatism was most frequent, accounting for 46.6%, followed by myopia (27.6%) and hyperopia (25.6%). Among children with hyperopia, 80% were assessed at +3.50 D to +6.50 D and 20% from +6.75 D to +9.50 D; among those with myopia, 75% were assessed at -6D to -9.50 D and 25% from -10 D to -14 D. Bilateral amblyopia was found in 9 cases for a frequency of 0.45%. The amblyopia was caused by astigmatism in 1 case, hyperopia in 4 cases, and by myopia in 4 cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The relative frequency of severe ametropia underlines the importance of a routine ophthalmology examination for children starting school.
authors: Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, université de Lomé, BP 13648, Lomé, Togo.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Vonor
authors: Service d'ophtalmologie, hôpital de Bè, université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo.
authors: K D
authors: KD
authors: Ayena
authors: Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, université de Lomé, BP 13648, Lomé, Togo.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Dzidzinyo
authors: Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Kara Kara, Togo.
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Amedome
authors: Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, université de Lomé, BP 13648, Lomé, Togo.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Santos
authors: Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Campus, université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Maneh
authors: Cabinet d'ophtalmologie, AFIA, université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo.
authors: R A
authors: RA
authors: Kuaovi Koko
authors: Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Campus, université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Banla
authors: Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, université de Lomé, BP 13648, Lomé, Togo.
authors: K P
authors: KP
authors: Balo
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014037:Togo / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: High-degree refractive errors; Togo; amblyopia; children