Eye involvement in Leprosy

Involvement of eye in leprosy is well known. It is a common cause of disability and morbidity in some areas of our country, like Karachi. We describe our experience of eye involvement in leprosy patients. Our purpose was to find out the frequency and severity of ophthalmic disabilities & deformities associated with leprosy in our patients. All the leprosy patients present to Leprosy Clinic, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, over a period of fifty months, were included in the study. They were assessed in the skin department as well as by the ophthalmologists. The disabilities were noted according to WHO criterion 1982, grade I to III. More than 30% cases had ocular involvement severe enough to be treated immediately. These included madarosis and conjunctivitis (grade I involvement) in more than 41% lagophthalmos, iritis/keratitis and blurring of vision (grade II involvement) in over 41% and severe loss of vision, blindness and enophthalmos (grade III involvement) in 17% of involved eyes. In conclusion, eyes are commonly and severely involved in our leprosy patients for which a strict surveillance is advised in at risk individuals in the form of early detection and management of these problems.