Ocular leprosy - a new perspective

The classification of ocular lesions in leprosy into academic and PST lesions clears away much of the confusion engendered by the wide disparity in the reported incidences. It also enables to project confidently the level of ocular morbidity in a given leprosy population with more precision. Based on the observation in the study approximately 1.5 million leprosy patients are expected to be affected with potentially sight threatening lesions. Measures to be undertaken to prevent this morbidity and visual impairment in this vulnerable group can be better worked up. The incidence of blindness on account of leprosy is reported to be 2.6 percent.