Prevalence Of Corneal Blindness Research Articles

A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON CORNEAL DISEASES AT A TERTIARY EYE HOSPITAL

Aim: To study the patterns of corneal diseases in out-patients department of ophthalmology at tertiary care centre. Materials & Methods: A retrospective study of the patients who presented to the ophthalmology department between 2019 July to 2021 July was done with the help of the data received from the hospital recording system. 176 Patients with only corneal disease were included. Those with corneal disease along with other ocular disease were excluded from the study. A detailed analysis was done for the same. Results: 1. The prevalence of corneal blindness was significantly higher with increasing age(30-50 yrs) 2. The most frequent cause of corneal blindness included keratitis during adulthood (56.7%), with male Preponderance( 65 % ) with mean age (30-50) females (35%) with mean age (20-50), mixed ulcers being the commonest infection( 78%) 3. Trauma (28.6%) 4. Corneal dystrophies and degenerations (10.6%) Conclusion: There is a significant burden of corneal blindness in this population, the majority of which is avoidable. Eye health promotion strategies are warranted to raise awareness about the causes and prevention of corneal blindness.

Офтальмологические средства с компонентами внеклеточного матрикса. Их эффективность в процессе репарации роговицы при нейротрофических, герпетических, рецидивирующих кератитах и эрозиях

Introduction. One of the topical issues of modern ophthalmology is the widespread prevalence of corneal blindness among the working-age population. The cause of this condition in most cases are infectious and inflammatory diseases of the anterior segment of the eye, the outcome of which is a violation of the architectonics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the cornea, clinically manifested by edema of the stroma, its fibrosis. Purpose. Comparative analysis of the effectiveness of existing ophthalmic agents based on biomimetics of ECM to stimulate the processes of reparative regeneration in neurotrophic, herpetic, recurrent keratitis and corneal erosions. Material and methods. Our literature review has shown the great importance of the components in maintaining corneal homeostasis, its transparency, strength, shape stability, as well as differentiation, proliferation, migration and growth of cellular structures of the ECM, and therefore the need to maintain its physiological architectonics in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory pathology. Results. The range of ophthalmic medicines and medical devices based on biomimetics of ECM is quite diverse. The active substances of such ophthalmic agents are the main components of the ECM, namely, glycosaminoglycans (GAG), glycoproteins, collagen, hyaluronic acid, heparin. Conclusion. Among the many biomimetics, we can single out the multicomponent hydrogel composition «Corneal Epithelium gel Protector (CEGP) SPHERO ® oko (JSC «BIOMIR Service», Russia), designed to restore the corneal epithelium, which includes both the main components of ECM and other biologically active substances, including peptides, amino acids, uronic acids, monosaccharides, growth factors, etc. The multicomponent composition of SPHERO ® oko provides the microenvironment necessary for the cells of the eye tissues, contributing to the processes of their proliferation and differentiation and, as a final result, to the acceleration of reparative regeneration of tissues damaged as a result of injury or infectious-inflammatory process. And also SPHERO ® oko demonstrates anti-inflammatory, decongestant, tear-substituting action, contributes to reducing neovascularization. Key words: SPHERO ® oko, extracellular matrix, keratitis, erosion, herpes, dry eye disease, cornea

Demographic Profile of Patients with Corneal Blindness at Tertiary Health Care Centre

Objective: To study the etiopathogenesis, age, gender distribution and visual impairment due to corneal blindness in a tertiary health care centre. In addition, to create awareness for eye donation among the population.
 Methods: The study was a cross sectional study conducted at a university hospital. Patients who arrived at the outpatient department while the study was ongoing had their demographic profiles recorded. Corneal blindness was defined by presenting a VA 3/60 by corneal disease in the affected eye. The experts made the diagnosis. 56 patients of both gender and age were included in study.
 Results: The prevalence of corneal blindness was found to more in men than women were and is more in patients with age >50 and < 10 years. The prevalence is more in rural population than urban among which farmer are most involved
 Conclusion: To decrease the burden of the corneal blindness patient in developing countries like India, there is need of educating the population about preventive measures and development and modernisation of ophthalmic centres.

English

BACKGROUND Corneal blindness has been a significant visual disability in developing countries like India. Corneal ulcer contributes mainly as the leading cause for monocular blindness. Considering the common condition, the studies and literature have been surprisingly less when it comes to corneal ulcer and their management. But with the advent of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK), the scenario and prevalence of corneal blindness can be reduced. Hence this study was done to know the importance of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty in case of non-healing infective and perforated corneal ulcers. The objectives were to assess the clinical outcome in a non-healing and perforated corneal ulcer, reduction in symptoms and signs of infection, anatomical or structural integrity of the globe and also evaluate the visual outcome following therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. METHODS Data were obtained from 30 patients operated at our institute for therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty. Patients with less than one year of follow up, paediatric cases, PL negative cases were excluded. The outcome was assessed based on maintenance of structural integrity, reduction in infective load, improvement in visual acuity and graft survival and its correlation with corneal vascularisation, previously failed grafts, donor tissue quality, graft size and type of surgery. RESULTS Structural integrity was maintained in 93.3 % of the cases, reduction of infective load in 90 % of cases and optically clear grafts in 46.7 % of cases and vision was better than 6/60 in 30 % of cases. CONCLUSIONS The study proved that in the case of non-healing and perforated corneal ulcers, therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty had a good prognosis in reducing infective load, maintaining structural integrity without which eye could have been lost. KEYWORDS Therapeutic Penetrating keratoplasty, Perforated corneal ulcer, non-healing corneal ulcer, corneal blindness, TPK

РЕГИОНАЛЬНЫЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ РАСПРОСТРАНЕННОСТИ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЙ РОГОВИЦЫ В РЕСПУБЛИКЕ АЗЕРБАЙДЖАН

Significance: According to the World Health Organization, 4.2 million people have low vision due to corneal opacity. The rate of eye care seeking (that significantly differs across population groups) affects prevalence of corneal disorders and visual impairments. Data on the causes of low vision in corneal disorders are fragmental. Studies on prevalence of corneal blindness are scarce. The climatic and geographic diversity of Azerbaijan and different accessibility of eye care typical of various regions of the country make the study significant. Purpose: to compare prevalence of corneal disorders in cities and districts of Azerbaijan. Material and Methods: information was provided by statistical services of the administrative and territorial entities. Statistical forms for registration of final diagnoses served as the control document. Statistical forms encoded by ICD-10 were distributed by age, gender, and nosological variants of corneal disorders. Prevalence of corneal disorders per 100,000 population was calculated. Results: the overall prevalence of corneal disorders in Azerbaijan equaled to 340.4±2.0 per 100,000 population. The prevalence of corneal disorders in the administrative and territorial entities varied from 228.4±20.2 to 697.6±34.3 per 100,000 population. The number of females with corneal disorders was higher in all age groups (р˂0.05) except for ages over 70. The maximum relative gender risk was registered in the age group of 40-44 years. The age-related prevalence pattern of corneal disorders in males and females was similar (the maximum prevalence is registered in the age group of 65-69 years). The leading nosologies included corneal injuries and foreign bodies (20.3%), bacterial keratitis (20.2%), and corneal erosions (18.0%). Conclusions: in Azerbaijan, the prevalence of corneal disorders depends upon the place of residence. These diseases are more common in females and the elderly. Non-infectious conditions rank first among the corneal disorders.

Prevalence and determinants of corneal blindness in a Semi-Urban population of southwest Nigeria

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and determinants of corneal blindness in a semi-urban population of Southwest Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of two months from 3rd March to 30th April 2014. A multi-stage sampling method with probability proportional to size procedure was used to select 1002 participants. The study involved obtaining information from the participants on demographic data and ocular history suggestive of the causes of corneal blindness using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Ocular examinations of the anterior and posterior segments of the participants were performed using pen touch, magnifying loupe, slit lamp and direct ophthalmoscope. The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 22. Summary statistics was presented using frequency tables, charts, means and rates. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: There were 1002 participants (410 males and 592 females). Their age range was 5–92 years with a mean age of 43 (±17) years. Eleven participants (13 eyes) had corneal blindness with a prevalence of 1.1% (95% confidence interval: 0.5–1.7). Corneal blindness accounted for 9.6 and 20.4% of bilateral and unilateral blindness, respectively. The prevalence of corneal blindness in the communities was greater among the male respondents, the older age groups, the farmers and the participants with lower educational status. The major causes of corneal blindness in the study were post-microbial keratitis (36.4%) and trauma (27.2%). Conclusion: Corneal blindness is still a major cause of both unilateral and bilateral blindness. Preventive measures for corneal blindness need to be further strengthened. In addition, affordable and accessible corneal surgery facilities should be established.

Prevalence and associated factors of corneal blindness in Ningxia in northwest China.

To describe the prevalence and demographic characteristics of corneal blindness in an urban and rural region of Ningxia, located in the northwest part of China. A stratified, randomized sampling procedure was employed in the study, including urban and rural area of all age group. Visual acuity, anterior segment and ocular fundus were checked. Related factor of corneal disease, including age, gender, education status, ethnic group, location and occupation, were identified according to uniform customized protocol. An eye was defined to be corneal blindness if the visual acuity was <20/400 due to a corneal disease. Three thousand individuals (1290 from urban area and 1710 from rural area) participated in the investigation, with a response rate of 80.380%. The prevalence of corneal blindness was 0.023% in both eyes and 0.733% in at least one eye. The blindness in at least one eye with varied causes was present in 106 participants (3.533%) and in bilateral eyes in 34 participants (1.133%). The corneal diseases accounted for 20.754% of blindness in at least one eye and 20.588% of bilateral blindness. The prevalence of corneal disease was higher in older and Han ethnic group, especially those who occupied in agriculture and outdoor work. People with corneal blindness were more likely to be older and lower education. Rural population were more likely to suffer from bilateral corneal blindness than the urban population in ≥59-year group (χ (2)=6.716, P=0.019). Infectious, trauma and immune corneal disease were the three leading causes of corneal disease. Trauma corneal disease was more likely leading to blindness in one eye. However, infectious and immune corneal diseases make more contribution to the bilateral corneal blindness. Corneal blindness is a significant burden of in Ningxia population, encompassing a variety of corneal infections and trauma; the majority of those were avoidable. Health promotion strategies and good hygienic conditions have to be developed.

Prevalence and causes of corneal blindness

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and causes of corneal blindness in a rural northern Chinese population. Cross-sectional study. The cluster random sampling method was used to select the sample. This population-based study included 11 787 participants of all ages in rural Heilongjiang Province, China. These participants underwent a detailed interview and eye examination that included the measurement of visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy and direct ophthalmoscopy. An eye was considered to have corneal blindness if the visual acuity was <9/18 because of corneal diseases. The main outcome measure was prevalence rates of corneal blindness and low vision. Among the 10 384 people enrolled in the study, the prevalence of corneal blindness is 0.3% (95% confidence interval 0.2-0.4%). The leading cause was keratitis in childhood (40.0%), followed by ocular trauma (33.3%) and keratitis in adulthood (20.0%). Age and illiteracy were found to be associated with an increased prevalence of corneal blindness. Blindness because of corneal diseases in rural areas of Northern China is a significant public health problem that needs to be given more attention.

Prevalence of and Associated Factors for Corneal Blindness in a Rural Adult Population (The Southern Harbin Eye Study)

Purpose: To examine the distribution and causes of corneal blindness in a rural Chinese population. Methods: Cluster sampling of populations age > 50 was used. The protocol consisted of a detailed interview, visual acuity (VA) testing, and clinical examinations. An eye was considered to have cornea blindness if the visual acuity was < 20/400 due to a corneal disease. Results: A total of 5057 eligible subjects agreed to participate, giving an attendance rate of 91.0%. Corneal blindness in at least one eye was present in 48 participants, prevalence of 0.949% (95% CI: 0.682–1.216%) in at least one eye, which included 0.16% prevalence of corneal blindness in both eyes. The most frequent causes of corneal blindness in at least one eye included keratitis during childhood (39.6%), keratitis during adulthood (27.1%), and trauma (20.8%). We found that aging and male gender were associated with prevalence of corneal blindness. Multivariate analysis shows a higher OR of corneal blindness in subjects age 70 and older (1.746) and male gender (1.177). Conclusions: Corneal blindness is a public health problem in southern Harbin, the majority of which is either preventable or treatable. Eye care planning must focus on corneal blindness as well as cataract.