[Eye involvement in leprosy. A study in Togo, West Africa]

It is well known that ocular changes occur in leprosy, but data on their frequency differ very considerably (0.8-100%). Two groups of lepers in Togo were examined: first, 206 lepers who had had the disease for approximately 10 years and a second group (101) patients who had been suffering from it for approximately 24 years and had severe mutilations. It became apparent that sooner or later all lepers suffer from ocular complications. The following symptoms were found: loss of the eyebrows in 40.8% (42.6%), loss of the eyelashes in 29.6% (34.6%), lagophthalmos caused by involvement of the 7th cranial nerve in 21.4% (31.7%), corneal changes in 34.5% (49.5%), uveitis in 5.8% (19.8%), atrophy of the optic nerve in 12.6% (11.9%) and cataract in 21.8% (12.8%). The duration of the disease, the type of leprosy and the time when treatment was started are obviously the main factors associated with ocular changes in leprosy.