[Selective laser trabeculoplasty in African blacks]. / Trabéculoplastie sélective chez le mélanoderme africain.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is preferably medical. However, when medical therapy fails, alternative or complementary treatments may be considered. In this regard, selective laser trabeculoplasty is a widely popular procedural treatment whose accepted benefits have been very little studied in African blacks. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty on the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in African blacks with POAG. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of black patients treated with selective laser trabeculoplasty between March 2010 and March 2011. All patients had POAG with trabecular meshwork accessible over 360°. The treatment protocol consisted of a 360°treatment in two sessions (180°/session) 15 days apart. Success was defined as decrease from the initial IOP≥3mm Hg without additional medications. RESULTS: We included 44 patients, corresponding to 82 eyes. The mean age of the patients was 55.94±11.66 years with extremes of 19 years and 76 years. The mean intraocular pressure before laser treatment (initial IOP) was 18.43±4.81mm Hg. After laser treatment, the mean pressure reduction was (i) 3.81mm Hg (20.67%) at 15 days ; (ii) 4.08mm Hg (22.14%) at 1 month; (iii) 4.45mm Hg (24.14%) at 3 months; and (iv) 4.95mm Hg (26.86%) at 6 months. The success rate after laser treatment was 67.60% at 15 days, 83.78% at 1 month, 72.09% at 3 months and 80.43% at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Selective laser trabeculoplasty is effective in African blacks. Its efficacy is comparable to that of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor or even a prostaglandin. It could be a complementary or substitutive alternative to POAG medications in African blacks.

[Cataracts related to the extended application of dermocorticosteroids. A study of 8 cases in Abidjan]. / Cataractes liées à l'application prolongée de dermocorticoïdes: étude de 8 cas à Abidjan.

INTRODUCTION: Cataract induced by corticosteroids is an entity, which has been well described for a relatively long time, but this eventuality caused by the cutaneous application of corticosteroids remains inadequately reported. The purpose of this study was to describe cataract as one of the complications of the misuse of cutaneous application of corticosteroids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In eight patients seen for visual loss, bilateral cataract was discovered. The only probable etiology in these cases appeared to be the cutaneous application of corticosteroids. Indeed, the work-up and careful history performed did not uncover any other etiology. RESULTS: Eight patients, six women and two men, exhibited cataracts related to the application of topical corticosteroids. The age of the patients ranged between 39 and 45 years. The cataracts were bilateral and posterior subcapsular alone or combined. The period of use of corticosteroids ranged from 5 to 10 years. The products used consisted of a variety of chemicals including corticosteroids mainly in the form of traditionally manufactured soap, but also as ointment or other types of mixtures. CONCLUSION: Topical corticosteroids induce posterior subcapsular cataract. The mechanism of action is direct access to the eye without any hepatic-first pass effect on the corticosteroid in question. The increasingly frequent use of corticosteroids in African blacks for skin lightening raises concern regarding the risk of epidemic cataracts in young women attempting to lighten their skin to be beautiful. Increased public awareness should be undertaken to prevent this growing and harmful phenomenon.

[Central serous chorioretinopathy: a study of six cases observed in Abidjan between 2003 and 2005, suggesting a role played by the Ivorian political-military crisis]. / Choriorétinopathie séreuse centrale: étude de 6 cas observés à Abidjan entre 2003 et 2005, rôle évoqué de la crise ivoirienne.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to show that central serous chorioretinopathy is present in Ivory Coast and that the emotional and psychosocial context plays an important role in this disorder's pathogenesis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The authors report six central serous chorioretinopathy cases based on angiographic diagnosis, five in Black African subjects and one in a European subject. These cases were observed over a period of 2 years during the Ivorian political-military crisis. RESULTS: In a center where angiography has been a current practice since 1999, up to 2002 479 angiographies were done without a single central serous chorioretinopathy case being diagnosed. After the beginning of the political-military crisis, six cases of central serous chorioretinopathy were observed out of 417 angiographies over a period of 2 years. All the patients were males, between 20 and 50 years old, five were Black Africans and one was a white European. Their professions varied (a contractor, a soldier, a business executive, for example). The angiography showed break points in ink spots in the majority of the cases, with one case showing multiple break points. All the patients were emotionally distraught because of the uncertainty of the political situation. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that central serous chorioretinopathy does indeed exist in the Black African subject, as it exists in the leucoderma subject without discrimination. This study emphasizes the anxiety and extreme emotional context as an initiating factor in the occurrence of central serous chorioretinopathy.

[Mid-term effects of two-site phacotrabeculectomy with limbal-based conjunctival flap and microincision trabeculectomy with adjustable sutures]. / Résultats à moyen terme de la phacotrabéculectomie en deux sites avec microtrabéculectomie ajustable.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the midterm effects of two-site phacotrabeculectomy with limbal-based conjunctival flap and microincisinal trabeculectomy with adjustable sutures. DESIGN: and method: The charts of 115 patients (188 eyes) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients had a mean age of 74.7 years and were all operated by the same surgeon between 2001 and 2003. The surgery consisted of a clear cornea phacoemulsification and a microtrabeculectomy with limbal-based conjunctival flap. The number of sutures on the scleral flap was adjusted according to the filtration. RESULTS: The mean preoperative IOP was 17.7 +/- 3.94 mmHg, and the mean number of antiglaucomatous medications was 2.05 +/- 0.86. The last postoperative IOP was 13.2 +/- 2.81 mmHg with a mean of 0.8 +/- 0.8 medications. Mean follow-up was 29.8 months (1-7 years). Visual acuity improved by at least two lines in 154 eyes (81%), stabilized (+/- 1 line) in 33 eyes (17.37%), and worsened of more than two lines in one eye (1.63%). Early postoperative complications were seven Seidels (3.68%), one shallow anterior chamber (0.55%), three chorioretinal detachments (1.58%), six hyphemas (3.15%), one iris incarceration (0.55%), and eight corneal edemas (4.21%). Late complications were five cases of bleb fibrosis despite needling and 5-FU injection. We had no cases of wipe-out syndrome. CONCLUSION: Our study shows the effectiveness of this special phacotrabeculectomy technique on IOP control and visual acuity improvement, with low complication incidence compared to classical phacotrabeculectomies.

[Central corneal thickness and potential error in Goldmann applanation tonometry of the Black African patient suffering from primary open-angle glaucoma: 340 eyes surveyed]. / Epaisseur cornéenne centrale et erreur potentielle de la tonométrie à aplanation de Goldmann chez le patient noir africain atteint de glaucome primitif à angle ouvert. A propos de 340 yeux.

INTRODUCTION: Goldmann applanation tonometry is the reference method for measuring IOP. This tonometric model is influenced by corneal thickness, which varies according to race. Most studies have been conducted on Caucasian or Black American subjects. Studies on Black African subjects being rare, the goal of our study was to measure the central corneal thickness and its impact on Goldmann applanation tonometry on Black African subjects suffering from primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our retrospective study focused on POAG eyes. The central corneal thickness was measured using an ultrasonic pachymeter (Quentel Médical). RESULTS: 340 eyes from 170 patients made up the sample. The mean age of our patients was 44.4 +/- 12.7 years, with a mean central corneal thickness of 519.6 +/- 32.6 microm. Of our patients, 57.6% had a central corneal thickness less than 527 microm, 30.6% between 527 and 560 microm, and 11.8% had a central corneal thickness greater than 560 microm. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Compared to Black American and Caucasian subjects, the Black African glaucoma subject differs in the early age of glaucoma onset and the thinness of the cornea. Corneal thickness evaluation induces a potential error in IOP measurement on Black African glaucoma subjects. On the Black African subject, Goldmann tonometry is therefore affected by an error rate estimated at 69.4% (57.6% underevaluation and 11.8% overevaluation). Pachymetry is therefore a necessity for the Black African glaucoma patient requiring IOP adjustment.

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging of the upper eyelid: correlation with the position of the skin crease in the upper eyelid.

PURPOSE: The position and appearance of the upper eyelid crease is one of the challenges in eyelid surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical appearance of the upper eyelid crease with its anatomy, including the position of the levator, the septum, and the orbital fat as determined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oculoplastic examination was performed in normal volunteers of the same age with different appearances of the upper eyelid. MRI (Intera 1.5 T, Philips, the Netherlands) was carried out with both head and surface coils in all volunteers. Subjects were asked to keep their eyes closed during the whole procedure, thus reducing artefacts due to eyeball movements. The protocol lasted 8 minutes and included a multiplanar scout to obtain T1-weighted 3D-images. Thin sagittal T2 sequences were obtained along the plane of the optic nerve and focused on both orbits, allowing a precise analysis of the orbital content and eyelid anatomy. RESULTS: Six volunteers were included in this prospective study, three of Caucasian origin and three of North African, Central African and Asian origin, respectively. We distinguished two appearances of the crease: in some cases, the superior eyelid sulcus was convex, while in other cases it was concave. The superior eyelid fold was either high or low. Two Caucasian subjects had a deep, concave superior eyelid sulcus with a high crease. This crease appearance was correlated with a short concave appearance of the septum, which pulled back the pre-aponeurotic fat. The non-Caucasian volunteers all had a convex superior eyelid sulcus. The orbital septum insertion was low on the levator aponeurosis, and the orbital fat pad drooped onto the levator muscle, accounting for the convexity of the upper eyelid sulcus. A skin fold was formed by redundant skin over the crease. CONCLUSIONS: MRI provides excellent images and allows a good analysis of the upper eyelid components. It permits a detailed analysis of the architecture for a better understanding of its appearance and of the crease position, although further investigation with a larger number of volunteers is required.

[Ocular biometric values of the black African patient and theoretical consideration of the role of these values in various pathologies: analysis of 325 eyes]. / Valeurs biométriques de l'oeil du sujet africain de race noire et hypothèse du rôle dans certaines pathologies: à propos de 325 yeux.

INTRODUCTION: The international literature seldom refers to eye measurements of the black African patient. Therefore, the various patterns where biometry elements are used as constituents deserve reconsideration as they may not correspond to the eye of the black patient of our region. This study provides true measurements for the black African patient in Ivory Coast. It also establishes hypotheses by extrapolating the role of measurements in pathologies such as glaucoma. MATERIAL: and method: The study included 325 eyes of 217 male and female patients. All the patients underwent ocular keratometrics and echo biometrics to measure the depth of the anterior chamber, the width of the lens, and the total axial length with the ultrascan biometer using the contact method in A echometrics. RESULTS: The mean keratometry in women was significantly higher than in men (43.99 +/- 1.62 diopters vs 43.46 +/- 1.45 diopters). The anterior chamber was deeper in men (2.69 mm +/- 0.54 vs 2.53 mm +/- 0.48). The men's eyes were significantly longer, with an axial length of 23.26 mm +/- 1.07 vs 22.56 mm +/- 0.90. CONCLUSION: Significant biometric differences between men's and women's eyes, on the one hand, and between black African and white patients' eyes, on the other hand, can be observed. The reasons for these differences are several: they are natural, socioeconomic, and technical. If standard implant of a different power for black and white patients can be imagined, can we also infer that the biometrics of a black African patient predisposes him to a disorder such as glaucoma more than a white patient? Further in-depth studies could provide an answer to this question.