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Ophthalmic complications of dengue
David P L Chan1, Stephen C B Teoh, Colin S H Tan
1The Eye Institute at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Republic of Singapore. David_Chan@ttsh.com.sg
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|February 24, 2006
Summary
Dengue infection can cause serious eye problems, including vision loss and retinal issues. Early detection and management are crucial for visual recovery in dengue patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection with a wide range of clinical manifestations.
- Ophthalmic complications of dengue fever are increasingly recognized but not fully characterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report and characterize ophthalmic complications in patients with dengue infection in Singapore.
- To describe the spectrum of ocular findings and visual outcomes in affected individuals.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 13 patients diagnosed with dengue fever and experiencing visual impairment.
- Ophthalmological examinations including visual acuity testing, Humphrey automated visual field analysis, Amsler charting, fundus fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography.
Main Results:
- Twenty-two eyes across 13 patients were affected, with visual acuity ranging from 20/25 to counting fingers.
- Central vision impairment was noted in 92.3% of patients, coinciding with the lowest platelet counts.
- Common findings included macular edema, blot hemorrhages, retinal vasculitis, exudative retinal detachment, and anterior uveitis.
Conclusions:
- Dengue infection can lead to diverse ophthalmic complications, expanding the known spectrum of the disease.
- While visual acuity generally improves within 12 weeks, residual central scotomas may persist.
- These findings highlight the importance of ophthalmological evaluation in dengue patients presenting with visual disturbances.
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