Abstract
A detailed ophthalmic evaluation including slitlamp biomicroscopy, measurement of corneal sensitivity using Cochet and Bonnet aesthesiometer, Schirmer's test and Goldmann applanation tonometry was carried out in 89 patients of Hansen's disease attending the leprosy clinic with or without ocular symptoms and willing to undergo eye evaluation. Thirty-one patients had lepromatous leprosy (8 with erythema nodosum leprosum), 56 patients had borderline disease (13 with reversal reactions) and 2 had tuberculoid disease. In addition to the well documented changes of lagophthalmos (6.7%), uveitis (7.3%) and cataracts (19%), we noted prominent corneal nerves in 133 eyes (74.7%), beaded corneal nerves in 19 eyes (10.7%), corneal scarring in 10 eyes (5.6%), corneal hypoaesthesia in 51 eyes (28%) and dry eye in 18 eyes (13%). Beaded corneal nerves and/or stomal infiltrates occurred mainly in the lepromatous group (75%). Ocular hypotony (IOP less than 12 mm Hg) was not seen more frequently in Hansen's as compared to age and sex matched controls with refractive errors or cataracts (33.7%, vs. 37.8%,p=0.33). Our study highlights the primary corneal involvement with corneal neuropathy as the predominant feature of Hansen's disease.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Shields JA, Waring GO, Monte LG. Ocular findings in Leprosy. Am J Ophthalmol 1974; 77: 880.
Francis I. Corneal changes in nine banded armadillos with leprosy. Invest Ophthalmol. Vis Sci 1988; 29 (1): 140–5.
Karacorlu MA, Lakiner T, Saylan T. Corneal sensitivity and correlations between decreased sensitivity and anterior segment pathology in leprosy. Br J Ophthalmol 1991; 75: 117–9.
Hogeweg M, Leprosy and the eye. Community eye health 1989; 3: 2–5.
Ffytche TJ. Role of iris changes as a cause of blindness in lepromatous leprosy. Br J Ophthalmol 1981; 65: 231–9.
Lewallen S, Hussein N, Cowrtright P, Ostler HB, Gelber RH. Intraocular pressure and iris denervation in Hansen's disease. Int J Lepr 1990; 58: 39–43.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sekhar, G.C., Vance, G., Otton, S. et al. Ocular manifestations of Hansen's disease. Doc Ophthalmol 87, 211–221 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01203851
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01203851