Ocular complications in patients with leprosy in Karigiri, South India

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Abstract
The examination of 143 leprosy patients revealed that 91 had ocular lesions attributable to leprosy and of these 13 were blind. The commonest lesion was madarosis and the commonest cause of blindness was chronic iritis (31% of all blind patients). Lagophthalmos remains an important condition and found in 25% of patients while corneal lesions account for a large number of ocular problems in leprosy (exposure keratitis 31%, interstitial keratitis 8%). Most affected is the 40-60 yr, age group and most of the affected patients had long-term disease. Lepromatous patients were also encountered more frequently (70%) among the invovled patients. A large number of patients also suffered from gross deformities (53%) and even more so amongst the blind (77%). This study does point out the importance of careful and regular examination of the eyes of leprosy patients by all involved with the care of these people.

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