Severe ametropia in children in Lomé (Togo)

Abstract

To determine the features of severe ametropia (refractive errors, including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism) in children in general practice in Lomé. 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. 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. The relative frequency of severe ametropia underlines the importance of a routine ophthalmology examination for children starting school.