Ocular Diseases at the Medical-Surgical Clinic Ophthalmology of Brazzaville

Article Information

Nganga Ngabou Charles Géraud Fredy1,2*, Makita Chantal1,2, Onka Vissimy1,3, Messe Ambia Koulimaya Reinette2, Diatewa Benedicte2, Gombe Eyissa1, Alandzobo Francine2

1University Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo

2Department of ophthalmology, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Congo

3Clinic Ophthalmology, Brazzaville, Congo

*Corresponding Author: Nganga Ngabou Charles Géraud Fredy, University Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo

Received: 05 August 2019; Accepted: 20 August 2019; Published: 04 September 2019

Citation: Nganga Ngabou Charles Géraud Fredy, Makita Chantal, Onka Vissimy, Messe Ambia Koulimaya Reinette, Diatewa Benedicte, Gombe Eyissa, Alandzobo Francine. Ocular Diseases at the Medical-Surgical Clinic Ophthalmology of Brazzaville. Journal of Ophthalmology and Research 2 (2019): 032-039.

Share at Facebook

Abstract

The causes of blindness are diverse, including infectious (dominated by trachoma and onchocerciasis) and non infectious. The objective of this study was to identify the most common ocular diseases in ophthalmology consultation.

Patients and methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study, based on information collected from medical records at the medical-surgical clinic Ophthalmology of Brazzaville. The study period was from January 1 to December 31, 2018, a period of 1 year. All patients who consulted during the study period were included. The variables studied were age, sex, motive for consultation and diagnosis.

Results: Our sample consisted of 908 females versus 528 males, or a sex ration of 0.58. It was represented by 10.72% of patients under 15 years against 21.58% of patients over 60 years. Overall, the most common ocular disease were refractive errors followed by conjunctivitis. Cataracts were the third leading cause of consultation with 12.39% of cases followed by glaucoma with 6% of cases.

 

Conclusion: Ocular diseases in private ophthalmology practice in Brazzaville remain dominated by conjunctivitis and refractive errors, followed by cataract and glaucoma. We found no cases of trachoma or onchocerciasis.

Keywords

Ocular diseases, Blindness, Ophthalmology consultation

Ocular diseases articles, Blindness articles, Ophthalmology consultation articles

Article Details

Introduction

Blindness is a public health problem [1]. In the 1950s, long before the official launch of a blindness prevention program, WHO’s early efforts in the fight against blindness were directed towards the prevention and eradication of trachoma [2]. In 1978, WHO launched the Blindness Prevention Program, expanding its targets to include onchocerciasis with xerophthalmia and cataracts [2]. In 1999, the VISION 2020 program [3], the right to sight initiative was jointly launched by the WHO and and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness for sub-Saharan Africa. It identified five diseases which required priority action in the first phase: cataract, trachoma, onchocerciasis, childhood blindness, refractive errors and low vision services. Concomitant with the recent reduction of the frequency of infectious diseases such as onchocerciasis and trachoma was marked new emerging causes of blindness. From that time onwards, much attention should be given to age-related chronic eye diseases which proved to be potential leading causes of avoidable blindness over the next decades [1]. All of these programs require evidence to put in place appropriate strategies. Since the study by Negrel [4] in 1990 on the causes of blindness, to date the Congo has no data on eye diseases in the general population. However, there are some hospital studies on childhood eye diseases [5, 6]. The objective of this study was to identify the most common ocular diseases in ophthalmology consultation.

2. Patients and Methods

This was a retrospective descriptive study, based on information collected from medical records at the medical-surgical clinic Ophthalmology of Brazzaville. This health facility has been implemented by the Congolese Association for the Preservation of Sight which is affiliated to the program in the fight against blindness including an option for cataract surgery. The study period was from January 1 to December 31, 2018, a period of 1 year. All patients who consulted during the study period were selected. Inclusion criteria-The patient should be examined by an ophthalmologist during the study period. Non-inclusion criteria-File not specifying the diagnosis. The variables studied were age, sex, motive for consultation and diagnosis. Statistical analyses were performed using the statistical software packages Epi-Info 7.

3. Results

Age groups

Male

Female

Total

%

1 to 15 years old

58

96

154

10.,72

16 to 40 years old

168

332

500

34.82

41 to 60 years old

172

300

472

32.86

Over 61 years old

130

180

310

21.58

Total

528

908

1436

100%

Our sample consisted of 908 females versus 528 males, or a sex ration of 0.58. It was represented by 10.72% of patients under 15 years against 21.58% of patients over 60 years.

Table 1: Distribution of patients by age group and sex.

 Diseases

Enrolment

%

Refractive errors

474

33

conjunctivitis

360

25.06

Cataract

178

12.39

Glaucoma

86

5.98

Pterygium

70

4.87

Trauma

38

2.64

cephalalgia

24

1.67

Maculopathies

16

1.11

Retinopathy

8

0.56

Others

182

12.67

Total

1436

100%

Overall, pathologies are dominated by refractive errors followed by conjunctivitis. Cataract was the third leading cause of consultation with 12.39% of cases followed by glaucoma with 6% of cases.

Table 2: Overall diseases.

Conjunctivitis accounts for more than 55% of consultations in patients under 15 years of age. Glaucoma represents 2% of pathologies between 16 and 40 years old. Glaucoma affects about 13% of patients in this age group.

Table icon

Table 3: Distribution of ocular diseases taking into account age.

The frequency of refractive errors increases gradually between 1 and 60 years of age, then gives way to cataracts, which is by far the leading cause of consultation after the age 60, with 1.3% of cases before age 15, its frequency increasing to 43 87% after 60 years. The frequency of glaucoma also increases with age.

fortune-biomass-feedstock

Figure 1: Evolution of the most frequent ocular diseases taking into account age.

The traumas are found at any age, but with a peak of frequency between 16 and 40 years. Maculopathies are more common after 60 years, dominated by AMD.

fortune-biomass-feedstock

Figure 2: Evolution of moderately frequent pathologies taking into account age.

4. Discussion

We found a female predominance with a sex ratio of 0.58. In Nigeria Adeoye [7] in Ilesa (south-west Nigeria) also found a female predominance with a sex ratio of 0.83, while in Ibadan (same area, south-west Nigeria), Scott [8] noted a male predominance with a sex ratio of 1.4. This sex predominance varies by study. Kassir [9] in Saida (Lebanon) did not find any predominance by sex with a sex ratio of 0.93. Overall ocular diseases were dominated by refractive errors and conjunctivitis with respectively 33% and 25% prevalences. Kassir [9] in Lebanon had similar results with 37.8% of refractive errors compared to 33.2% of conjunctivitis. In Nigeria, however, in Ilesa, Adéoyé [7] found cataract as the dominant ocular disease with 26% of cases, followed by refractive errors with 18.5%. Allergic conjunctivitis accounted for 12.4% of cases. Always in Nigeria, in Ibadan, Scott [8] reported a predominance of conjunctivitis 32.9% of cases followed by cataracts with 14.7% of cases. Refractive errors were ranked fourth with 9.9% of cases. Overall, the dominant ocular diseases remain the same. Their prevalence varies according to the quality of eye care services offered in each study centers. Given that cataract surgeries are not performed at the medico-social center of Saida in Lebanon, only 6% of cases where reported. On the other hand, at the Ilesa center in Nigeria [7], where cataract surgeries are performed, 26% of cases were noted. Monsudi [10] who works in a reference center of a health district noted 32.3% of cataracts.

Other factors may influence the prevalence of cataract, such as cataract surgery rate, life expectancy in the region or the amount of patients in the 60-year-old age group in the study. With less than 2% of patients over 60 years old, Koki [11] reported a cataract prevalence of 3.4% among still professionally active military and police officers. Age is an important factor in the occurrence of ocular diseases. Conjunctivitis dominated ocular diseases up to 40 years old whereas refractive errors prevailed from 41 to 60 years old. Cataract was the most frequent ocular disease beyond 60 years old. Glaucoma was the fourth most common ocular disease with 5.98% of cases in our study, the 5th for Scott [8] with 5.3% of cases, the 4th for Adéoyé [7] with 10.9% of cases. In the reference center of Monsudi [10] reported 18.3% of cases of glaucoma (2nd position behind the cataract) due to the quality of eye care services offered. The prevalence of glaucoma gradually increased with age in our study, ranging from 0% between 0 and 15 years of age to 12.9% in patients over 60 years of age.

Other ocular diseases identified but relatively frequent were represented by pterygium, ocular trauma, headache, retinopathy and maculopathy. Pterygium, which represented 4.7% of patients in our study, accounted for 4.4% of cases at Monsudi [10]. More frequent between 16 and 60, it is a common disease in young subjects and professionally exposed [12]. Eye trauma, 2.64% of cases in our study, 12.8% of cases and 3rd motive of consultation in Scott's study, are found at any age predominating between 16 and 40 in our study. Ocular trauma is a major cause of transient monocular blindness [13]. Headaches are relatively common causes of ophthalmology consultation, and Kaimbo [14] noted that patients are usually referred to us by colleagues (57% of cases), including neuropsychiatrists. In 46% of the cases, the ocular examination is normal, and in a quarter of cases they are associated with ametropia [14]. Maculopathy remains relatively less frequent with a prevalence of 1.1%, but this prevalence increases to 3.87% in subjects over 60 years old, dominated by AMD. Retinopathies affect more relatively young people in our study between 41 and 60 years of age. Ocular diseases in private ophthalmology practice in Brazzaville remain dominated by conjunctivitis and refractive errors, followed by cataract and glaucoma. We found no cases of trachoma or onchocerciasis.

References

  1. WHO Universal Eye Health, Global Plan of Action (2014-2019).
  2. Resnikoff S, Pararajasegaram R. From Policy to Action, Blindness Prevention Programs: Past, Present and Future. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 5 (2001): 71-74.
  3. Global Initiative for the Elimination of Avoidable Blindness: Launch of the VISION 2020 Initiative in Francophone Africa. Community Eye Health 1 (2004): 4-5.
  4. Negrel AD, Massembo-Yako B, Botaka E, et al. Prevalence and causes of blindness in Congo Bulletin of the World Health Organization 6 (1990): 237-243.
  5. Makita C, Nganga Ngabou CGF, Koulimaya RC, et al. The Ocular Pathology of the Child: About 751 Cases in Teaching University Hospital of Brazzaville, Congo. Austin J Clin Ophthalmol 5 (2018): 1085.
  6. Atipo Tsiba PW. Blindness in children: causes and associated diseases. RMJ 71 (2014): 19-22.
  7. Adeoye AO, Omotoye OJ. Eye disease in Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria. Afr J Med Med Sci 36 (2007): 377-380.
  8. Scott SC, Ajaiyeoba AI. Eye diseases in general out-patient clinic in Ibadan. Niger J Med 12 (2003): 76-80.
  9. Kassir MS. Ophthalmological pathology of dispensary in Lebanon: the example of Saïda. French Studies and Research Papers/Health 10 (2000): 237-242.
  10. Monsudi KF, Saka ES, Azonobi RI. Pattern of eye diseases presents at free outreach in rural community in the Northwestern Nigeria. Sudan Medical Monitor 10 (2015): 113-116.
  11. Koki G, Mbogos Nsoh C, Epee E, et al. Profil des affections oculaires en milieu militaire au Cameroun. Revue SOAO 1 (2015): 46-52.
  12. Szwarcberg J, Flament J. Pterygium. Encycl Med Chir (Editions Scientifiques et Medicales Elsevier SAS, Paris, all rights reserved), Ophthalmology, 21-135-A-10 (2001): 12.
  13. Wang W, Zhou Y, Zeng J, et al. Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized for ocular trauma in South-Central China. Acta Ophthalmol 95 (2017): 503-510.  
  14. Kaimbo Wa Kaimbo D, Missotten L. Ophthalmology headaches. J Fr Ophtalmol 26 (2003): 143-147.
  15. Third World Health Assembly resolution WHA3.22. Handbook of Resolutions and Decisions of the World Health Assembly and the Executive Board, Volume 1 1948-1972. Geneva, World Health Organization (1973): 98.
  16. Thylefors B, Megrel ADI, Pararajasegaram R, et al. Available data on blindness (update 1994). Ophthalmic Epidemiology 2 (1995): 5-39.
  17. Oladigbolu KK, Abah ER, Chinda D, et al. Pattern of eye diseases in a university health service clinic in northern Nigeria. Niger J Med 21 (2012): 334-337.

© 2016-2024, Copyrights Fortune Journals. All Rights Reserved