@article{22140,
  keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, Cross-Sectional Studies, Eye diseases, Female, Humans, Incidence, leprosy, Male, Middle Aged, Nepal, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, Young Adult},
  author = {Javvadhi S and Das H and Agrawal S},
  title = {Pattern and determinants of ocular complications in leprosy patients in eastern Nepal.},
  abstract = {<p><b>BACKGROUND: </b>odular complications of leprosy can lead to blindness.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>to report the pattern and determinants of ocular complications in patients with leprosy from eastern Nepal.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>a cross-sectional study was carried out analyzing one hundred and eighty six patients of leprosy presenting between Jan 2002-Nov 2004. All the patients were categorized using WHO and Ridley and Jopling classification. After determining bacillary indices in all of them, a detailed ocular examination was carried out. Independent risk factors were determined for ocular involvement.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>ocular complications were found in 30.65% of the leprosy patients; lagophthalmos (17.74%) was the most frequent followed by uveitis (8.60%). Most of the patients having visual loss had it due to corneal complications and none of the patients with uveitis had vision <6/18. The patients released from treatment (83.33%) and those currently on treatment (31.63%) had higher occurrence of complications. Risk factors for ocular involvement were higher bacillary index, longer disease duration (p-=0.031, RR=1.109, 95% CI=1.009-01.218) and decreased corneal sensation(p=0.001, RR=3.564; 95 % C I=2.014-6.306). Higher Schirmer values (p=0.012, RR=0.935, 95% CI=0.888-0.985) were found to be protective for ocular complications. STASTICS: SPSS ver 10.0 was used for data analysis. The P value of <0.05 was considered as significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>the prevalence of complications is high in patients released from treatment for leprosy. Cornea-related complications are the most important cause of visual disability and blindness. Risk factors for ocular complications are higher bacillary index, longer disease duration and decreased corneal sensation.</p>},
  year = {2009},
  journal = {Nepalese journal of ophthalmology : a biannual peer-reviewed academic journal of the Nepal Ophthalmic Society : NEPJOPH},
  volume = {1},
  pages = {2-8},
  month = {2009 Jan-Jun},
  issn = {2072-6805},
  language = {eng},
}