Prevalence of Refractive Errors among School Children Aged 5 to 15 Years Old at CHU-IOTA

Introduction: Undetected refractive errors constitute a health problem among school children who cannot take advantage of educational opportunities. The authors studied the prevalence of refractive errors in school children aged 5 to 15 at CHU-IOTA. Patients and Method: This is a prospective, descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in the ophthalmic-pediatrics department of CHU-IOTA, from October to November 2023. Results: We received 340 school children aged 5 to 15, among whom 111 presented ametropia, i.e. a prevalence of 32.65%. The average age was 11.42 ± 2.75 years and a sex ratio of 0.59. The average visual acuity was 4/10 (range 1/10 and 10/10). We found refractive defects: astigmatism 73.87%, hyperopia 23.87% of cases and myopia 2.25%. The decline in distance visual acuity was the most common functional sign. Ocular abnormalities associated with ametropia were dominated by allergic conjunctivitis (26.13%) and papillary excavation (6.31%) in astigmatics;allergic conjunctivitis (9.01%) and papillary excavation (7.20%) in hyperopic patients;turbid vitreous (0.90%), myopic choroidosis (0.45%) and allergic conjunctivitis (0.45%) in myopes. Conclusion: Refractive errors constitute a reality and a major public health problem among school children.

Self-Medication during Eye Affections among Consultant Patients at Chu-Iota

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), self-medication consists in the fact that an individual resorts to a drug, on his own initiative or that of a loved one, with the aim of treating an ailment or a symptom that he identified himself without having recourse to a health professional. Self-medication involves the use of medicinal products by the consumer to treat self-recognized disorders or symptoms, or the intermittent or continued use of a medication prescribed by a physician for chronic or recurring diseases or symptoms. The aim of this study is to determine the different characteristics of ophthalmic self-medication at the CHU-IOTA. Patients and Method: We conducted a prospective study in patients of any age who resorted to ophthalmological self-medication before the first consultation or during the ophthalmological care of consulting patients at the CHU-IOTA between January 1 and July 31, 2021. Results: Over the period, 521 cases of ophthalmological self-medication were collected out of a total of 24,512 consultations, which corresponds to a frequency of 2.12%. The average age was 37.7 years, [2 months - 78]. The sex ratio was 0.50. Economic factors were the main factor mentioned, 66.79%. Corticosteroids accounted for 45.26% of the pharmacological class with dexamethasone/neomycin eye drops being the most widely used, i.e. 22.94%. The most common complication was corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension on ametropia, i.e. 15.54%. Our patients were 68.13% educated. Among his educated patients 53.35% had no knowledge of the products. Conclusion: Given the harm associated with this practice, awareness and information campaigns aimed at the population, caregivers and pharmacists or pharmacy vendors are necessary in order to reduce the frequency of the practice of self-medication.

Refractive State and Macular Abnormalities at Oct in Albino at Chu Iota

Introduction: A rare genetic disease, albinism is globally characterized by specific deficits of the visual system associated with a variable hypopigmentation phenotype depending on the disruption of melanin production [1]. It is linked to a hereditary defect in the biosynthesis of melanin. Disease results in a generalized decrease in the pigmentation of the appendages, skin and eyes [2]. The aim of this study is to determine the different refractive errors and the different macular anomalies during the OCT examination in oculocutaneous albinism at the CHU-IOTA. Patients and Method: We conducted a prospective study in patients over 10 years of age with oculocutaneous or ocular albinism who consulted at the CHU-IOTA between July 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021. Results: Over the period, 105 cases of oculocutaneous albinism were collected out of a total of 42,024 consultations, which corresponds to a frequency of 0.2%. The average age was 26.2 years, (11 years to 48 years). The sex ratio was 1.6. Astigmatism was the most found refractive error in 50.48% of cases, followed by myopia in 29.52% of cases and farsightedness in 20% of cases. The macular thickness between 251 - 350 was the most commonly found in both eyes, i.e. 47.25% on the right and 53.55% on the left. The bulging macula was the most frequent pathology on the OCT at the level of the two eyes, i.e. 41.42% on the right and 50.6% on the left. Conclusion: Following the visual impairments linked to albinism, early optical care and access to OCT are necessary. Thus the accompaniment of a subject with albinism and associations of albinism must be global and meet specific needs, in order to prevent or avoid ocular complications.