[Perception of ocular blinding manifestations of sickle cell disease by practitioners in Dakar university hospital]. / Perception des lésions oculaires cécitantes de la drépanocytose par les praticiens hospitalo-universitaire de Dakar.

INTRODUCTION: In Senegal, 10% of the population are said to be carriers of hemoglobin S, the most widespread hemoglobinopathy in the world. It is responsible for potentially blinding ophthalmological manifestations. Few practitioners refer patients for ophthalmologic screening. The goal of our study was to assess the level of knowledge of practitioners of the blinding ocular lesions of sickle cell disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional prospective study was carried out over five months. It included Dakar university hospital practitioners aside from ophthalmologists. On the survey form, each practitioner specified his or her specialty and responded to eight questions regarding sickle cell patients seen in consultation, knowledge of the blinding lesions related to the disease, and ocular monitoring for blinding systemic diseases. The practitioners were divided into three groups: department of medicine and medical specialties (group I), surgery and surgical specialties (group II), and biology and functional testing (group III). The descriptive analysis was done with the EPI-INFO software version 6.04. RESULTS: The participation rate was 45.88%. Group I represented 45.29% of the sample, Group II 35.85% and Group III 18.86%. In all, 87.73% of practitioners saw sickle cell patients in consultation, 75.47% were aware of ocular involvement related to sickle cell disease, and 58.49% were aware of blinding lesions. 94.62% of practitioners saw sickle cell disease patients without systematically recommending ophthalmological consultation. CONCLUSION: Practitioners' level of knowledge of the blinding ocular lesions of sickle cell disease is considered to be low.

[Isolated microspherophakia in a Senegalese family]. / Microsphérophakie isolée dans une famille sénégalaise.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical investigation of isolated microspherophakia involving a Senegalese family in order to appreciate its functional impact. OBSERVATIONS: This is a rural family comprised of 7 members. The sibship included three girls and two boys. One of the girls, who lived in a distant zone, was unable to be examined. Of all the examined members of the family, only the father was unaffected by the illness. There was no consanguinity. The general medical examination was normal. The best-corrected visual acuity (VA) for the girls was 2/10. For one of the boys, BCVA was 8/10 for both eyes, and for the other, BCVA was 10/10 for the right eye and 8/10 for the left eye. The mother's VA was 10/10 and P2 without correction. Myopia and astigmatism were present in the 4 children of the sibship. During the examination, we noted the presence of small crystalline lenses, which were very round and presented an abnormal visibility of the lens equator and zonular fibers. The diagnosis of microspherophakia was confirmed by measurement of the lens diameters by ultrasound biomicroscopy. Complications were present in the girls, including pupillary block glaucoma and amblyopia for the elder, and retinal degeneration and amblyopia for the younger daughter. The elder daughter was managed medically with glaucoma drops. The younger daughter received optical correction and a prophylactic Argon LASER treatment. The two boys received optical correction. No treatment was recommended for the mother. CONCLUSION: Microspherophakia is a rare condition. Some serious complications can lead to amblyopia. A better multidisciplinary evaluation would allow for early detection and a better prognosis.

[Ocular lesions of artificial depigmentation]. / Lésions oculaires de la dépigmentation artificielle.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the type and frequency of the ocular lesions found in patients practicing artificial depigmentation. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We conducted a prospective study over 3 months involving 108 patients, of whom 72 underwent depigmentation, and 36 did not, representing the controls. RESULTS: Among patients undergoing depigmentation, 100% were female, of whom 34.72% developed ocular lesions. Exogenous ochronosis lesions of the eyelid predominated (34.72%), followed by ocular ochronosis (25.81%). Cataract (19.35%) and glaucoma (6.45%) were the least frequent. Among the untreated, only 19.44% had ocular lesions. These included cataract (57.14%) and glaucoma (42.86%). Ocular lesions were more frequent in patients using products containing hydroquinone. CONCLUSION: Artificial depigmentation is responsible for ocular lesions of variable severity. Our study highlights the importance of the raising awareness amongst the general population of the complications of artificial depigmentation, particularly the ocular lesions.

[Objective refraction in black children: cyclopentolate and tropicamide combination, a reliable alternative to atropine?]. / Réfraction objective chez l'enfant mélanoderme: l'association cyclopentolate et tropicamide, une alternative fiable à l'atropine ?

INTRODUCTION: Cycloplegia allows for an objective refraction in children. Atropine is the gold standard but causes prolonged blurred vision. Cyclopentolate is less effective but less disabling. Tropicamide is a weak cycloplegic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a cyclopentolate and tropicamide combination (CTA) versus atropine for refraction in black children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective study between October 2011 and July 2012 on all children seen in consultation. Objective refraction was performed after cycloplegia with cyclopentolate 0.5% combined with tropicamide 0.5%, and then after cycloplegia with atropine. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were recruited, 14 boys and 19 girls. The average age was 9.9 years. The mean age of the patients was 9.9 years. Astigmatism was found in 96.9% of cases. It was 1.34±1.32 diopters with CTA and 1.35±1.22 diopters with atropine. The mean axis was 98.15 and 99.8, respectively. Hyperopia and myopia were found in 39 and 27 eyes, respectively with ACT (average 1.73 and 5.37 diopters), and in 41 and 19 eyes with atropine (average 2.06 and 6.11 diopters). DISCUSSION: There is a good correlation of results with regards to cylindrical and spherical refractive error between the two protocols. Atropine is the best cycloplegic, however ACT provides reliable results. CONCLUSION: The cyclopentolate-tropicamide combination is satisfactory for routine cycloplegia in children.

[Treatment of retinoblastoma: Senegalese experience]. / Thérapeutique du rétinoblastome: expérience sénégalaise.

INTRODUCTION: Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor arising from retinal stem cells or retinoblasts. Its management has been well determined. The goal of this study is to report preliminary results obtained with combined chemotherapy and surgical treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our transverse prospective study includes retinoblastomas diagnosed and treated on our service from January 2006 to December 2010. Fundus examination under general anesthesia and radiological examination, orbital/brain CT or if unavailable, ultrasound, were systematically performed. MRI was able to be obtained in one case. The patients received 6 courses of chemotherapy (vincristin-carboplatin-etoposide or vincristin-cyclophosphamide), including 2 preoperative courses and 4 postoperative courses. A surgical procedure (enucleation or exenteration) supplemented the treatment, followed by histologic analysis of the specimen. External radiation therapy and conservative management were not available. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were treated. Median age at time of diagnosis was 9months (range 2months to 7years); the gender ratio was 1.18. Tumors were bilateral in 12 cases and unilateral in 47 cases, intraocular in 34 cases and extraocular in 25 cases. Optic nerve involvement was confirmed by histology in 12 cases. Twenty-one patients died from recurrence and/or metastatic disease, or during chemotherapy. Seven were lost to follow-up, and 31 have survived uneventfully. DISCUSSION: Improvement of mortality is still our major concern. Radiation therapy is essential in the presence of optic nerve involvement. CONCLUSION: Long-term survival will determine the efficacy of this form of management. The contribution of new therapeutic means will improve these results.

[Intratarsal triamcinolone acetonide injection for treatment of refractory chronic tropical endemic limboconjunctivitis (TELC): experience at Aristide-Le-Dantec university hospital in Dakar]. / Injection intratarsale de triamcinolone acétonide dans le traitement des formes graves de la limboconjonctivite chronique endémique des tropiques (LCET) : expérience du CHU Aristide-Le-Dantec de Dakar.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of intratarsal triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injection versus dexamethasone ointment in the treatment of refractory chronic tropical endemic limboconjunctivitis (TELC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This one-year prospective study enrolled 20 patients with refractory TELC. One millilitre containing 40 mg TA was injected intratarsally on the most affected eye and dexamethasone ointment applied in the fellow eye. Efficacy was judged by clinical criteria according to a specially designed scale for the study. Statistical analysis was carried out using Fisher's chi(2) test and Student's t test with comparisons of the means of paired samples. RESULTS: In both cases, symptoms improved in all patients, as early as the following day or week, and clinical signs improved from the second week through the first month after injection, with an effective dose of 1 mL TA and three weeks of dexamethasone, with no recurrence at three months. Efficacy of the ointment alone was less (33.3-75%) than that with injection (90.9-100%) and could only be maintained after the first month by repeated application. CONCLUSION: Intratarsal TA injection, relatively easy and well-tolerated by patients, may be a better alternative to dexamethasone ointment in the treatment of refractory TELC.

[Ocular lesions in melanodermia patients with chronic renal failure]. / Les lesions oculaires chez le patient melanoderme atteint d'insuffisance renale chronique.

AIM: To describe the and the factors that influence their occurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was performed over a year in the Ophthalmology clinic of Aristide le DANTEC Hospital, including 112 eyes of chronic renal failure patients followed up in the internal medicine unit of the same hospital. For each patient data of his follow up in the nephrology ward were recorded, even as the ophthalmological clinical examination which included colour test and angiography. All the lesions found were recorded on a questionnaire, seeking for any influence as far as age, sex, duration of signs, dialysis, and general complications were concerned. The analysis was performed using the 2005 Epi-info 6.0 software. RESULTS: Sex ratio was 1.54. 70% were above 40 years old. Blindness was found on 44.6% of the eyes. There were 20.5% cases of eye lids oedema, 15.8% conjunctival calcifications, 26.8% cataracts, 3 cases of ocular hypertension, 7.1% corneal lesions. Hypertensive retinopathy was found on 75.9% of the cases, amongst 14.3% classified stage 3, and retinal oedema signs associated on 13.8%, arteriosclerosis on 14.3% of the cases. 88.1% had confirmed signs of dyschromatopsia. On angiography, there was evidence of chorioretinal lesions due to high blood pressure, including decrease of the choroidal blood flow, choroidal ischemic areas, and halo peripapillary oedema. Age was a risk factor for eye lid oedema. Corneal and conjunctival lesions, even as eye lid oedema and hypertensive retinopathy were more frequent on patients, sick for less than a year. High blood pressure was a risk factor for papillary lesions, hypertensive retinopathy, and dyschromatopsia. Corneal and conjunctival calcifications were found mostly on patients on dialysis, whereas they had less eye lid oedema, hypertensive retinopathy, and maculopathy. CONCLUSION: Retinal lesion, especially due to high blood pressure is the most described. It permits to establish the prognostic of the disease. Patients on dialysis show a decrease of that retinopathy, but some sequels might persist which are invalidating, irreversible and may lead to blindness. This can be prevented by early screening of high blood pressure and an adequate treatment of chronic renal failure. Ophthalmologic examination remains a cheap and simple method to prevent the complications.

[Clinical and angiographical findings of age-related macular degeneration in Senegal. Preliminary results]. / Aspects cliniques et angiofluorographiques de la degenerescence maculaire liee a l'age au Senegal. Résultats préliminaires.

INTRODUCTION: Principal cause of legal blindness in industrialized countries, age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) have never been studied in West Africa. We report and analyse the clinical and angiographical characteristics of macular degeneration in our patients older than 50 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective study, we recruited during 13 months all patients presenting ARMD signs from our consultation department. Various clinic and angiography parameters were collected. The follow up varied between 6 and 20 months. RESULTS: The prevalence of this pathology was of 6.5 per 1000. Sex ratio was 0.36 and mean age 61.6 years (53 to 80 years). No familial history of ARMD was found. Three patients were more exposed to sun because of their profession, 9 had high blood pressure, 6 were hyperopes and 1 was smoking. A drop of visual acuity was noted in all cases but no metamorphopsies. Signs founded were miliar drusen (20 eyes), serous drusen (4 eyes), association of those two kinds (4 eyes) and retinal pigmented epithelium abnormalities (PE) (8 eyes) alone or associated with drusen. These signs were significant of age-related maculopathy (ARM). The fluorescein angiography confirmed the type of lesions and showed no signs of neovascularization. An aggravation of the pigment migration was noted in one case after 20 months. CONCLUSION: Age related macular degeneration doesn't seem frequent in our population of patients and shows essentially under its initial form of ARM even though facilitating factors seemed identical, excepted tobacco addiction, sun exposition and systemic hypertension. This study which short terms results we are presenting would need to be continue to give more precisions on those data.

[Local anesthesia in children's ocular surgery]. / Anesthésie loco-régionale dans la chirurgie oculaire de l'enfant.

PURPOSE: Present a Senegalese experience of local anesthesia in children's ocular surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on 309 patients under 15 years of age, operated on in our department from June 1998 to December 2002. The type of anesthesia, general or local, was noted. The latter consisted in a retrobulbar and/or a peribulbar injection, with 4 ml of 50% of lidocaine 2% and bupivacaine mixture. RESULTS: Local anesthesia was given to 38.8% of patients, who had a mean age of 11.51 years, with a sex ratio of 2.4. The mean age of patients operated on with general anesthesia was 4.6 years. No complications were noted in the local anesthesia group. One operation was postponed because of lack of cooperation. In this group of operated patients, 62.5% had a cataract surgery, 16.7% a corneal laceration suture, and 10.0% mutilating surgery. COMMENTS: Because of our working conditions, local anesthesia, more than a choice, is almost obligatory. Our study shows that local anesthesia in children's ocular surgery has many advantages and few disadvantages. However, this study is limited because of a lack of information on the anesthesia and postoperative reactions. A prospective study based on a questionnaire completed by the anesthesiologist and the surgeon at the end of surgery will be necessary. CONCLUSION: Ocular surgery under local anesthesia is possible in children as young as 10 years of age. Good psychological preparation of the patient and the presence of the parents, from the consulting room to operating room, are required.

[A systemic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of allergic conjunctivitis]. / Démarche diagnostique et thérapeutique des conjonctivites allergiques.

The diagnosis of allergic conjunctivis begins by a meticulous questioning emphasizing the existence of ocular itching, the way of evolution of the signs and allergic preceeding. The examination searchs after follicles and papillae of the conjunctiva who usually go with serous discharges, blepharitis and keratitis. So four clinical forms may be described the chronic conjunctivitis, the vernal kerato-conjunctivitis, the atopic conjunctivitis and the giganto-papillar conjunctivitis. For the treatment, all non specific signs of allergy must be eliminated, the focal infections also and allergic substance isolated. If evolution is worse, an antiallergic eye drop is given until the disappearance of all the physical signs. In the same time, steroids and anti H1 drugs must be avoided. In case of failure, the specialist in allergy will be helpful to exam the patient.

[Fungal keratitis in an intertropical area: diagnosis and treatment problems. Advantage of local use of polyvidone iodine]. / Problème diagnostique et thérapeutique de la kératite mycosique en zone intertropicale. Intérêt de l'usage local de la polividone iodée.

Fungal infection is rarely investigated in keratitis. The authors report five cases of fungal keratitis observed at the le Dantec University Teaching Hospital of Dakar, Senegal, involving two males and three females. Diagnosis was made by examination of smears and cultures of corneal scrapings revealing Candida albicans isolated in four patients and Acremonium strictium in another after 2 or 12 weeks of treatment with antibiotics, antivirals, or steroids. Povidone iodine 2.3% concentrated eye drop was used alone or with an azole for 4 a mean of weeks. All patients presented corneal scars. Fungal keratitis must be considered in presence of torpid corneal ulcer and corneal scraping must be systematically done. Topical povidone iodine alone or associated with azole may be an alternative fungal keratitis treatment in intertropical areas.

[Aniridia: five case studies]. / L'aniridie: à propos de cinq observations.

INTRODUCTION: Aniridia, or congenital absence of the iris, is a rare and severe ocular abnormality. We report five cases diagnosed in our department over the last 5 years and describe our clinical findings and attitude. OBSERVATIONS: The patients were two adults and three children, 8-45 years old at the time of diagnosis. Visual acuity ranged from light perception to 20/50. Aniridia was associated with other abnormalities in four cases: lens ectopy in one case, ptosis in three cases, microcornea in one case, macular hypoplasia in three cases and a pterygium coli associated with a pectus excavatum in one case. All patients had complications: corneal dystrophy in three cases, lens opacities in five cases, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in two cases, severe amblyopia with nystagmus or strabismus in three cases. Only patients with glaucoma received IOP-lowering medications. IOP was normalized in both cases and regular controls were instituted for all the other patients. DISCUSSION: Management of aniridia is complex in our regions because patients often consult late, at a stage that involves complications and amblyopia. First-intention surgical treatment of glaucoma is not always justified. CONCLUSION: Only genetic counseling, a close follow-up after an early diagnosis and adapted surgical techniques can improve the visual prognosis of aniridia patients.

[Senegalese experience of orbital cellulitis]. / Une expérience sénégalaise des cellulites orbitaires.

AIM: To show the etiological, clinical, and epidemiological aspects of orbital cellulitis at the ophthalmological clinic of A. le Dantec hospital. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This is a retrospective study conducted from January 1994 to October 2003. Sixty-eight patient records were used. We noted patients' civil status, past medical history, clinical and paraclinical examinations, treatment received before and at admission to the clinic, and progression. RESULTS: The incidence of orbital cellulitis was 8.9 cases per year. The average age of patients was 18 years and the sex ratio 2.78 in favor of males. Patients were hospitalized for a mean of 11 days. The fever was often stopped at admission. All patients had violent retrobulbar pain, associated with inflammatory exophthalmos in 77.8% of cases, and ophthalmoplegia in 67.2%. Two cases of diplopia were noted; 57.5% had sinusitis. Streptococcus was the bacterium found most frequently. In hospital, all patients received three antibiotics (ampicillin, aminoglycoside, metronidazole) and prednisone. In 51.5% of the cases, surgical treatment was necessary. Progression was favorable in 55.88% of the cases. Three patients died and 18 cases of blindness were noted. CONCLUSION: Orbital cellulitis is a young people's disorder with serious complications. This medical emergency requires a combination of effective antibiotics and a corticosteroid. Treating the source of infections is essential to avoid recurrence. In our practice, these three drugs in association in first intention was beneficial without an antibiogram.

[Compliance of medical treatment in primitive glaucoma open angle]. / L'observance au traitement médical dans le glaucome primitif à angle ouvert. Résultats préliminaires.

INTRODUCTION: Compliance to medical treatment expresses the patient's perception of the disease and the treatment prescribed by the doctors. Lack of compliance endangers chronic glaucoma care, which explains the importance it has been given these last years. The objectives of this survey were to evaluate the compliance of adult patients suffering from primary open angle glaucoma to discover the influential factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a survey at the ophthalmology clinic of Le Dantec Hospital from January 1997 to May 1998 among 31 adults being treated for primary open angle glaucoma. An indirect evaluation of the patients' compliance was made on the basis of a questionnaire after examination of their medical files. It was deemed good, average, or bad depending on: regularity of the patient's visits to the doctors, regularity of the treatment, respect of the doctor's prescription and the prescribed times for taking the medicine. The Chi square independence test was used to study the influence of the following factors: age, sex, residence, socioeconomic status, duration of symptom progression, level of instruction, counseling, and treatment. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 60.5 years. Compliance was deemed good for 29% of the total cases, average for 32.3%, and bad for 38.7%. Only factors such as the regular visits to the doctor, the regularity of the treatment, and respect of the doctor's prescription and the prescribed times for taking the medicine were found to be influential (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The medical treatment of primary open angle glaucoma, whether temporary or permanent, with a maximum of efficacy and a minimum of side-effects requires good compliance on the part of the patient. This compliance in turn requires a good doctor-patient relationship based on effective repeated counseling to educate patients, help them understand the disease, and act on the influential factors.

[Epidemiological and angiofluorographic aspects of diabetic retinopathy in Senegal]. / Aspects épidémiologiques et angiofluorographiques de la rétinopathie diabétique au Sénégal.

PURPOSE: Attempting to improve life expectancy among diabetics reveals degenerative complications, including diabetic retinopathy (DR) linked to microangiopathy. We assessed the incidence of diabetic retinopathy in its various forms amongst diabetics in Senegal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a survey between March and October 1998. The 51 patients surveyed had been affected for more than 5 years. They were divided into two groups: insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDD). Patients were aged 17-71 and included 27 IDD and 24 NIDD. Each patient was given both a biological checkup (blood sugar level, HBA1c, creatininemy, triglycerides, cholesterol, albuminaria and urinary glucose) and an ophthalmological checkup with angiography in fluorescence. RESULTS: Of the 51 patients studied, 26 presented a progression span of the disease of over 10 years. DR was detected in 62 eyes out of 102 (60.78%), with 37.25% of nonproliferating DR, 17.65% of preproliferating DR, and 5.88% of proliferating DR. Maculopathy was detected in 10 eyes (9.80%). Amongst the IDD patients, diabetic retinopathy accounted for 57.14% of diabetes, with a progression span of less than 10 years, compared to 84.62% for diabetes with a progression span of over 10 years. Amongst the NIDD patients, diabetic retinopathy accounted for 36.36% compared to 61.54%. DISCUSSION: Through these results, a connection can be made between diabetic retinopathy, the progression span of diabetes, the type of diabetes, and the other microangiopathies. We noted a rise in retinopathy that increased with the age of diabetes patients and their IDD group. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary support of diabetes ensures early detection of diabetic retinopathy; hence the need for closer collaboration between the endocrinologist and the ophthalmologist.

[Frequency of retinal changes in myopia in a black population]. / Fréquence des lésions rhegmatogènes chez le myope mélanoderme.

PURPOSE: Retinal detachment is the main complication of peripheral retinal lesions in myopia but seems rare in black people. We analysed peripheral retinal changes in myopia in a black population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was conducted by a single ophthalmologist. The tests included a refraction, a retinal biomicroscopy (with a Volk lens and a 3-mirror Goldmann lens) and an indirect ophthalmoscopy. The results were compared by a chi square test. RESULTS: 50 people (100 eyes) were available for examination. The mean age was 28.21 years, the two extremes being at 11 and 54 years, with 68% females and 32% males. In 50 eyes the spheric equivalent was between -1 and -5.75 diopters (group I). In 50 eyes the spheric equivalent was greater than or equal to -6 diopters (group II). Snow was found in 16% of cases in group I and 34% of cases in group II (p = 0.0366). Tears were found in 2% of cases in group I and 12% of cases in group II (p = 0.116). Lattice degeneration was found only in group II. CONCLUSION: Retinal tear frequency was similar to the results of other authors. Comparative studies are necessary to evaluate the risk of retinal detachment in black populations.

[Contribution of the Kansas technique for reducing complications of mature cataract surgery]. / Apport de la technique de Kansas dans la réduction des complications de la chirurgie des cataractes mûres.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with the Kansas technique of phakosection which eliminates or limits most complications of classic manual extracapsular extraction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included our first 80 patients undergoing surgery for mature cataract between May 1996 and May 1998 where we used the Kansas technique. We compared outcome with a group of 30 patients who underwent classic manual extracapsular extraction in a study performed in 1995 by the same surgeon in the same hospital. RESULTS: Per- and post-operative complications were significantly lower with phakosection. Functional rehabilitation was quicker, better and provided better patient comfort. DISCUSSION: Despite some difficulties encountered in a public hospital (viscoelastic excessively fluid and in small quantity, lack of suitable knives or reuse of sterilized disposable knives), we found that the Kansas technique is very well adapted to mature cataracts and our working conditions. CONCLUSION: Phakosection allowed us to give our patients with mature or very mature cataracts the benefit of small incisions. With a moderate increase in cost, this technique significantly reduced our per- and post-operative complication rates and gave quicker and better visual recovery. In our countries, this technique provides better care than phakoemulsification.

[Scleral mini-incision without ultrasound in the treatment of congenital cataract]. / Mini-incision sclérale sans ultrasons dans le traitement de la cataracte congénitale.

PURPOSE: Congenital cataract surgery can be performed by pars plana or limbal incision. We report our experience with scleral incision without ultrasounds in congenital cataract surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen children with congenital cataract underwent surgery of both eyes (30 eyes). The zonular ciliaris and the lens anlage were normal in all cases. All procedures were performed by the same surgeon. A 3.2 mm scleral tunnel incision was made 2 mm from the limbus. Large capsulorhexis or capsulopuncture were performed after injection of a viscoelastic substance in the anterior chamber. After hydrodissection, the nucleus and cortex were aspirated. The wound was closed by apposition suture. RESULTS: The mean age was 70.13 months (range 5 months to 130 months). Mean induced astimatism calculated with the Cravy method was 0.70 dipoters. A posterior capsular tear was observed in 1 case. CONCLUSION: Small scleral incision without ultrasounds has advantages. No expensive instruments are required and astimatism is not induced. The anterior chamber lies deep during the operation, protecting the endothelial cells and facilitating aspiration. Postoperative inflammation is minimal. The small scleral incision technique is useful in selected cases of congenital cataract.