[Posterior chamber implantation in black Africa. Apropos of 150 cases with an 18 months follow-up]. / L'implantation de chambre postérieure en Afrique noire. A propos de 150 cas suivis pendant 18 mois.

The purpose of this article is to report our study of 150 cases of posterior chamber implantations carried out at the Hôpital Principal de Dakar between 1988 and 1991. We report the specific difficulties of such operations in black Africans and their complications and follow-up. At the end of this study, after observations over an eighteen month period, we noticed a visual acuity of more than 20/30 for 105 patients (70%) and a secondary cataract in 22 cases (14.6%). Despite less favourable material conditions, we think that such an operation can perfectly be made in Africa and that it gives quite acceptable results.

[Eye injuries caused by vesicatory insects]. / Lésions oculaires par insectes vésicants.

Ocular injuries by vesicatory insects appear exceptional and the authors have not found any reports in the literature. Cantharidine, with toxicity comparable to that of mustard gas, can be present in many species of coleoptera. It results in progressive corneal necrosis ending in ocular perforation in 30 days. The necrotic process persists with long duration because this material is not broken down. It provokes deep ocular injuries (cristalline lens). The inflammatory reaction is severe with acute refractory hypertension. There exists no antidote, only prevention is useful. Emergency penetrating keratoplasty with anterior chamber lavage should help eliminate the toxin. In daily practice, the authors observe similar but less serious injuries; they think that they could be due to dust rich in vesicatory insect debris or their secretions.

[Rotational penetrating autokeratoplasty. Report of 10 cases in West Africa]. / Autokératoplastie transfixiante de rotation. Etude à propos de 10 cas opérés en Afrique de l'Ouest.

The authors presented 10 patients (1 bilateral) of central corneal scars treated by ipsilateral rotating autokeratoplasty in West Africa. By rotating an excentric corneal button, the scar could be displaced peripherally and clear cornea brought into the visual axis. The method may be indicated when a non progressive central scar was present in a otherwise clear and normal cornea. The method of Bourne and Brubaker could be useful for determining the most appropriate trephine size and placement. Good visual results were obtained for 7 eyes. Complications undergone in three eyes. The procedure alleviates difficulties with the availability of donor tissue and with graft rejection.

[Monobloc lamellar autokeratoplasty (MLAK) and corneal cicatrization. Apropos of a comparative trial in a control group and a group treated with a L-cystine and pyridoxine hydrochloride combination]. / Autokératoplastie lamellaire monobloc (AKLM) et cicatrisation cornéenne. A propos d'un essai comparatif d'un groupe témoin et d'un groupe traité par l'association de L-Cystine et Chlorhydrate de Pyridoxine.

In pterygium cure, one piece lamellar corneo-conjunctival autokeratoplasty allows to perform a reproducible corneal injury in human clinic, and thus, to study the epithelial healing. The authors describe a comparative test on 2 groups of 18 subjects each, receiving in this blind study, either classical post-operative treatment (witness group), or in addition to this treatment: L-Cystine and Pyridoxine Chlorhydrate. Two tests are analysed: the duration of epithelial healing in one day (negative fluorescein test) and post operative "well being" (estimated on the intensity of photophobia, tears and pain). Statistical analysis (non parameter tests) display a significant difference in favor of the group treated by Cystine B 6.

[Orbital and ocular tumors in the Republic of Mali]. / Les tumeurs orbito-oculaires en République du Mali.

Analysing 82 cases of oculo-orbital tumours in Malian patients, the authors find the classical features characterizing ocular carcinoma in Africa, i.e. early arising, development, late request for treatment. They stress on the age of the patients at the occasion of the first request for treatment in case of retinoblastoma, and notice the special frequency of squamous cell carcinoma with conjunctival or limbic localization.

[Artificial lenses at the Institute of Tropical Ophthalmology of Africa]. / Les cristallins artificiels à l'Institut d'Ophtalmologie Tropicale de l'Afrique (I.O.T.A.).

The authors present a report on the first set of twenty-three intra-ocular lenses fitting on subjects from Mali, performed at the "Tropical African Ophthalmology Institute" (I.O.T.A.) from december 1983 up to december 1984. This report deals mainly about the implants of the inner aqueous chamber of the eye after the intracapsular extraction. The mechanical complications and inflammatory corneal and retinal consequences which occurred after the surgical operation are being tested. None of these complications has questioned the visual and functional prognosis. So, the results seem quite good. Nevertheless, the mass-surgery concerning the cataract with the fixing of an intra-ocular lens will be able to be considered when the cost of the implants is materially reduced.

[Technics and results of autografts in surgery of pterygium. Study based on 34 grafts]. / Techniques et résultats des autogreffes dans la chirurgie du ptérygion. Etude portant sur 34 greffes.

The first procedure consists of corneal autograft sampled at noon or six o'clock on the pterygium's excision bed, combined to a conjunctival flaps translation. The second technique consists of a monoblock corneoconjunctival graft with a limbic hinge. The operative difficulties, post-surgical complications and results are discussed. The results seem very promising: one recurring case out of 34 grafts performed. The recurring risk, more acute in tropical environment where it is frequently impossible to obtain corneal homografts is greatly reduced by autografts.

[Artificial crystalline lens in developing countries (author's transl)]. / Cristallin artificiel et pays sous-dévéloppés.

In developing countries, cataract affects many young but also poor patients. They have difficulties to get operated and generally cannot afford to buy spectacles. Implanting artificial crystalline lens is, then, theorically the best solution. This skillfull technique, nevertheless, requires a high level sanitary environment. Recent advances in the surgical treatment of cataract and postoperative correction of aphakia minimized its risks. Improvements in plastics technology give new possibilities. A study of the various techniques available and of the changes required in the sanitary environment of developing countries give some hope for a possibility of using artificial crystalline lens in these countries.

[Where are the borders of trachoma? (author's transl)]. / Où sont les frontieres du trachome?

A case of a trachoma at scar-stage with entropion-trichiasis is recorded. The patient was a white woman having spent her whole life in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon Islands which are not affected by trachoma. The authors, then, review the present trends about the extraocular and ocular diseases caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.

[A case of retinitis in a patient with schistosomiasis (author's transl)]. / A propos d'un cas de rétinite chez un bilharzien.

The authors report a case of pure macular oedema. After ruling out all other etiologies, the diagnosis of schistosomiasis due to Schistosoma mansoni was established, with parasitologic and serologic proofs. The specific treatment was followed up by a progressive restoration associated with an acute increase of eosinophila. The question of ocular damages in schistosomiasis is exposed according to the existant litterature: 1) Presence of schistosoma eggs in the ocular area. 2) Presence of adult schistosome in the eyeball. 3) Ocular troubles assumed to be in relation with the presence of adult worm or to larva.

[Retinopathy due to 4-aminoquinolines in the prevention of malaria]. / La rétinopathie par les amino-4-quinoléines dans la prophylaxie du paludisme.

The authors give a study about retinopathy by 4-amino-quinoleine in malaria prevention. Twelve observations are known in patients after 12 to 20 years of treatment. The authors suggest systematic research of this retinopathy.

[Ocular lesions in leprosy (author's transl)]. / Manifestations ophtalmologiques de la lèpre.

Modern authors estimate from 47 p. 100 to 78 p. 100 the frequency of ocular lesions in leprosy. This frequency varies according to the duration and type of the disease. These lesions may result from a paralysis of the V or VII cranial nerves, or from a bacteremia, but, more probably, from a spreading of the bacilli from the nasal cavity through the lacrymal ducts. The various lesions of each ocular structure are described with reference to the T. or L. type of leprosy.

[Retinopathy due to amino-4-quinoleines group of the synthetic antimalarial drugs (author's transl)]. / La rétinopathie par les antipaludéens de synthèse du groupe des amino 4 quinoléines.

The use of overdoses of amino-4-quinoleines in non-malarial diseases has demonstrated various toxic actions on eyes. The most severe is retina lesion. Metabolism of these drugs and pathogeny of the lesions are discussed. With regard to aetiology, the main factor is overdose and duration of treatment. Clinical aspects are classified in three phases; the third one is divided in 5 stages. Treatment is only prophylactic.