Ocular manifestations of behcet's disease in Jordanian patients

To study the prevalence, manifestations and severity of ocular involvement of Behcet's disease in Jordanian patients. The study population consisted of 43 patients diagnosed to have Behcet's disease through Rheumatologist's examinations conducted at Jordan University Hospital between January 2002 and July 2009. The sample involved patients who displayed ocular manifestations. This included 18 patients; 12 males and 6 females with a mean age of 35 years [SD = 17.26]. Ophthalmological examinations and retrospective analysis of medical files were carried on. Ocular manifestations were seen in 41.9% of patients. The most common manifestation for Behcet's disease was vitritis with a prevalence of 55.6%, followed by anterior uveitis and retinal vasculitis [50% for each]. On the other hand, the most frequent complications involved were cataract, cystoid macular edema [CMO], posterior synechiae and glaucoma with a prevalence of [44.4%], [33.3%], [11.1%] and [5.6%], respectively. The prevalence and severity of ocular lesions in Behcet's disease is relatively low in Jordanian patients. This result indicates that early diagnoses and intervention might delay or even prevent vision loss for those patients.

three year survey of serious ocular injuries

The study aims to evaluate serious ocular injuries in a defined Jordanian population with special reference to epidemiological aspects. Of 223 patients with ocular injuries who were admitted to Princess Basma Teaching Hospital in Irbid, Jordan, were reviewed. The material was analyzed retrospectively with respect to various epidemiological features. There was a marked preponderance of male patients throughout the age range. 79.3% of the patients were males and 20.7% were females. Most of the patients were in the first two decades of life with an average age of 15.5 years. Fifty three per cent of the patients had severe injuries presenting with visual acuity of less than 6/60 and a domestic activity was the commonest cause for those severe injuries. Ocular trauma remains an important cause of preventable visual morbidity. With the home [and domestic activities] being identified as the single most frequent place for severe ocular injuries to take place, health education should be directed towards this location for prevention of serious ocular injuries