English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Neurocutaneous syndromes (NCS) are a group of genetic disorders that produce a variety of developmental abnormalities of the eye. Ophthalmic manifestations usually appear early in life and progress with time. The study was conducted to know the prevalence of ocular manifestations in neurocutaneous syndromes with emphasis on neurofibromatosis. METHODS This study was conducted in ophthalmology department at a tertiary care hospital during a period of 2 years among 30 patients. All phakomatoses referred from other specialty departments for ophthalmological evaluation and cases diagnosed in ophthalmology department during routine evaluation were included in the study. RESULTS Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) accounted for most of (66.67 %) the cases followed by Sturge Weber syndrome (SWS) (20 %). Majority (55 %) of NF-1 and 83.33 % of SWS and all patients of other phakomatoses were in the age group < 30 yrs. 55 % of NF-1 patients were males. 65 % of NF-1 patients gave positive family history. Lisch nodules, the most common ocular finding in NF-1 were present in 85 % of patients and of these 82 % were bilateral. Medullated nerve fibre was seen in 10 % of patients. Glaucoma was seen in 66.67 % of Sturge Weber syndrome patients. Conjunctional telangiectasia was seen in 16.67 % of Sturge Weber syndrome patients. Seizures and radiological features were seen in most patients with Sturge Weber syndrome. Megalocornea with normal intraocular pressure (IOP) was seen in both of our patients with posterior fossa malformations, haemangioma, arterial anomalies, coarctation of the aorta/cardiac defects, and eye abnormalities (PHACES syndrome). Eyelid coloboma, ectropion uvea, hyperchromia iridis & myopia was seen in one patient with PHACES syndrome. A case of tuberous sclerosis had many systemic features like calcified subependymal nodules, renal angiomyolipomas, skin features and the only ocular finding was hypopigmented iris spots. CONCLUSIONS Ophthalmologist has a role in early recognition of the neurocutaneous syndrome from specific ocular features (like Lisch nodule in NF-1), reducing ocular morbidity by timely treatment (of conditions like glaucoma) and prompt referral to concerned speciality for management of systemic involvement. KEYWORDS Neurofibromatosis, Sturge Weber Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis