Abstract

SA.22.09

Infectious blinding eye diseases – from trachoma to other preventable causes of blindness in the Middle East-African region

Bialasiewicz A. A.¹, Becker H.², Thakral A.¹, Breidenbach K.³, Ganguly S.^4
1Department of Ophthalmology and School of Ophthalmic Technicians and ⁴Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman; ²Department of Ophthalmology, SIV, Toensberg, Norway; ³Department of Ophthalmology, Al Shatti Hospital, Muscat Oman

To report on the incidence and risk factors of significant blinding infectious diseases as seen at a tertiary University healthcare center in Oman, a country with a multiethnic population and high-level hygienic standards.
Methods: In a retrospective single center cohort study at the Dept of Ophthalmology and School of Ophthalmic Technicians of the Sultan Qaboos University, demographic data, and risk factors of the hospitalized patients with significant blinding eye diseases presenting from 2001-2005 were evaluated.
Results: Epibulbar and intraocular infections: Keratitis (326 eyes) with major causes being trauma: 156 eyes (48%) (e.g. date palm: 86, animal hoof: 28, fin­gernail: 21) and soft contact lens overwear: 116 eyes (36%))
Endophthalmitis: Further frequent causes of admission for infectious diseases were posttraumatic (63 eyes), postoperative (26 eyes), and metastatic (3) endophthalmitis. Retinitis: 4 patients (2 eyes) with HIV infection. Retinochoroiditis: toxoplasma reactivation in 12 patients (14 eyes).
Adnexal and skin infections: bacterial dacryocystitis was treated in 16, sandfly larval infections of the lacrimal ducts in 2, and other eyelid infections including histoplasmosis and leishmaniasis in 4 patients. Follicular and intense stages of trachoma were only observed in 5 patients (10 eyes) over 5 years. Intraocular parasites and malaria manifestations were not seen.
By comparison with historical data of freequent preventable endemic trachoma, the spectrum of infectious eye diseases has shifted to blinding traumatic and nosocomial infections according to new behavior and lifestyles. These blinding conditions could be preventable to almost the same extent as trachoma in the old days if the lifestyle would change.

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