Vonor K, Ayena K D, Dzidzinyo K, Amedome K M, Santos M, Maneh N, Kuaovi Koko R A, Banla M, Balo K P
Service d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sylvanus Olympio, université de Lomé, BP 13648, Lomé, Togo.
Service d'ophtalmologie, hôpital de Bè, université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo.
Med Sante Trop. 2014 Apr-Jun;24(2):219-20. doi: 10.1684/mst.2014.0343.
To determine the features of severe ametropia (refractive errors, including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism) in children in general practice in Lomé.
We conducted a retrospective study based on records of patients aged 5-16 years seen in a private clinic in Lomé from 1 January, 2001, to 31 December, 2010. We analyzed subjective refraction after automated refraction or retinoscopy.
Among 1303 cases of ametropia in children, 58 cases were severe, for a frequency of 4.5%. The mean age of these patients was 12.7 years. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.7. Among these severe cases, astigmatism was most frequent, accounting for 46.6%, followed by myopia (27.6%) and hyperopia (25.6%). Among children with hyperopia, 80% were assessed at +3.50 D to +6.50 D and 20% from +6.75 D to +9.50 D; among those with myopia, 75% were assessed at -6D to -9.50 D and 25% from -10 D to -14 D. Bilateral amblyopia was found in 9 cases for a frequency of 0.45%. The amblyopia was caused by astigmatism in 1 case, hyperopia in 4 cases, and by myopia in 4 cases.
The relative frequency of severe ametropia underlines the importance of a routine ophthalmology examination for children starting school.
