ABSTRACT
We carried out this study to increase our knowledge and understanding of exotropia (divergent strabismus) in general, but particularly in black people, in whom it occurs more frequently. We carried out a prospective study in the department of ophthalmology of Douala General Hospital from November 1991 to June 1998. All patients underwent oculomotor examination and skiascopye. In a series of 225 consecutive strabismus cases, we identified 147 cases of exotropia (59.51%) in 67 male patients (45.58%) and 80 female patients (54.42%). In 59.86% of these cases, exotropia was evident before the age of one year and 59.19% had amblyopia. The mean age at first examination was 17.04 years (+/- 12.12 years). Hyperopia was the most common form of ametropia (59.86%) and 39 patients (26.53%) had parents, children or siblings who also had exotropia. We found that exotropia was the most common form of strabismus in black people in Cameroon and that it spontaneously progressed to amblyopia in a significant number of cases. We therefore recommend early, active treatment.
Subject(s)
Black People , Exotropia/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Amblyopia/epidemiology , Cameroon/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Disease Progression , Exotropia/genetics , Female , Humans , Hyperopia/epidemiology , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Refractive Errors/epidemiology , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We undertook a study on strabismus in order to determine the characteristics of this disease in Cameroon. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in the ophthalmological unit of the Douala General Hospital from November 1991 to October 1995. All patients were examined and followed regularly by the same team. RESULTS: We found 137 strabismus, which represent 1.22% of all patients with 51 esotropias (37.2%) and 86 exotropias (62.8%). The mean age was 13.61 years at the first consultation. 82.4% of convergent strabismus appeared before the age of one year against 67.4% of divergent strabismus. Moreover, amblyopia was found in 68.6% and 59.3% of cases respectively. CONCLUSION: As compared to European series, this study shows notably the great frequency of divergent squint in black africans and the fact that spontaneous evolution of the latter can lead to amblyopia in a large number of cases.
