Ocular manifestations of homozygous sickle cell disease in Qatif, Saudi Arabia: a preliminary report

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of ocular manifestations in Saudi homozygous sickle cell disease patients [SSD].A prospective study.Paediatric and adult sickle cell clinics at Qatif Central Hospital, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.The subjects were 51 consecutive patients with confirmed SSD 31 males and 20 females [MF ratio 1.61]. Mean age 18.6 years [range 5-38 years].Detailed ocular examination during steady state, including indirect ophthalmoscopic retinal examination. Presence of SCO-related ocular manifestations in the conjunctiva, sclera, anterior segment and retina.Ocular abnormalities were found in 13 patients [25.5%]. Conjunctival abnormalities in ten patients [19.6%],and peripheral retinal abnormalities in six patients [11.8%]. No proliferative retinal abnormalities were found.The frequency of ocular manifestations is much lower in our patients compared with SSD patients of African descent