Funduscopic alterations in SS and SC hemoglobinopathies. Study of a Brazilian population.

Fundus changes in sickle cell disease are well studied and documented according to their clinical and angiographic aspects. Sickle cell retinopathy was studied in a Brazilian population of 63 patients (41 with SS hemoglobinopathy, and 22 with SC hemoglobinopathy). All ophthalmoscopic changes observed in our patients were more frequent in the SC group with the exception of atrophic retinal tears, found only in the SS group. Proliferative retinopathy including its complications was seen in 54.54% of the eyes of the SC group, and in only 14.64% of the eyes of the SS group. Decreased vision is consequently greater in the SC group. Despite the great frequency of funduscopic changes in both groups, only 1 patient suffered irreversible visual loss due to retinal detachment operated on without success.