02188nas a2200373   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653001400051653002100065653001800086653001100104653001400115653001200129653002700141653001700168653001300185653002100198653002500219653001800244100001500262700001500277700001400292700001300306700001400319700001600333700001600349700001000365700002400375245004300399300001000442490000700452520134100459022001401800       1995                            d  c199510aBlindness10aCorneal Diseases10aCorneal Ulcer10aHumans10aKeratitis10aleprosy10aOnchocerciasis, Ocular10aRisk Factors10aTrachoma10aTropical Climate10aVitamin A Deficiency10aXerophthalmia1 aMaurin J F1 aRenard J P1 aAhmedou O1 aBidaux F1 aDordain Y1 aPariselle J1 aFroussart F1 aDot C1 aRigal-Sastourne J C00a[Corneal blindness in tropical areas].  a445-90 v553 a<p>Corneal disease is the second most common cause of blindness in tropical countries after cataract. It mainly strikes children who are exposed to numerous infectious agents against which they are unprotected due to the absence of basic health care. In high risk groups, the incidence of childhood corneal-related blindness is more than 20 times higher than in developed countries. There are many causes of corneal-related blindness. Endemic trachoma persists in some areas and inflammatory forms can lead to blindness. Eradication requires instillation of antibiotics in the eye, improvement of sanitary conditions, and campaigns against promiscuity. Xerophthalmia can induce blindness by perforation of the cornea in children with vitamin A deficiency. Measles, herpes simplex keratitis, and corneal ulcer that progresses to bacterial or fungal infections, or to amebic keratitis are also major causes of corneal-related blindness. The incidence of onchocerciasis is decreasing thanks to treatment with ivermectin and programs to control simulium. Neonatal gonococcal ophthalmia and leprosy-associated ocular disease can also lead to blindness. This overview of the various causes illustrates the close correlation between the level of life and living conditions and the occurrence of corneal-related blindness in tropical areas.</p>  a0025-682X