Artikel
Age-related macular disease in the DR Congo – Demographic and clinical aspects
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Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 18. September 2006 |
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Gliederung
Text
Introduction
Age-related macular (ARM) disease is one of leading causes of visual impairment in individuals more than 50 years of age in developed countries. Some studies reported ARM to be unusual in colored races but others established it to be frequent in theses races with prevalence varying between 1,1% in South India and 17,4% in Africa. There are no statistics available in most of part of Africa and especially in DR-Congo. This report try to give some clinical and epidemiological aspects of ARM in patients examined in an Eye Clinic.
Aim
To describe Demographic and clinical findings of ARM in black patients examined in an African Eye Clinic.
Methodology
- A review of medical files examined in an out patient Eye Clinic from January 2000 till December 2005 were made.
- Patients aged of 40 years old or more were included with a diagnostic of ARM.
- Patients with other maculopathy were excluded and with juvenile macular degeneration as well.
- Sex, age, visual acuity and clinical findings were recorded.
Result
Among 37.127 patients examined, only 26 had ARM. There was not difference between sex, 92% were aged more than 50 years old. Most of patients had the dry form of ARMD characterized especially by drüsen and pigmentary changes. We had one case with wet form with exudates and preretinal haemorrhages Only 8 patients (31 %) had a VA<6/60 or worse. Most of them had the dry from of ARM.
Conclusion
Age related macular (ARM) exist in black population but with a low frequency. Visual acuity is rarely worse, the dry is common with predominance of drüsen and pigmentary changes. We think that with special equipment for diagnosis this frequency can change.