Leishmaniasis of the lid in Tuscany

Ocular involvement in cutaneous leishmaniasis four cases with blepharoconjunctivitis

PURPOSE

To determine the rate of ocular involvement in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).

METHODS

Nine hundred and eighty seven cutaneous leishmaniasis patients diagnosed and identified by clinical examination and parasitological methods in Harrankapi Health Centre between January 1996 and November 1997 were examined at the Harran University School of Medicine Eye Clinic, Sanliurfa, Turkey.

RESULTS

One thousand seven hundred and three CL lesions were identified in 987 patients (484 women and 503 men) with ages ranging from 0 to 78 years (mean +/- SD 16.70 +/- 13.47 years). A total of 33 lesions were located on the eyelid and in the periorbital region, making up 1.93% of all cutaneous lesions and 3.57% of facial lesions. In three cases with ocular involvement, blepharoconjunctivitis was identified, and in one case with ocular involvement, mechanical ptosis, lagophthalmos and blepharoconjunctivitis were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

It was observed that the size of the lesions and their vicinity to the marginal free edge of the eyelid played an important role in the occurrence of ocular symptoms. It was concluded that many ocular findings could be missed because of the failure to conduct ophthalmological examination of CL cases with eyelid involvement, and hence, proper follow up and treatment may not be carried out.

Eyelid leishmaniasis in a patient with neurogenic ptosis

A patient with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia contracted cutaneous leishmaniasis of the upper eyelid. Infection of this site is rare because eyelid movements usually prevent the sandfly vector from biting the skin there. It is postulated that the relative immobility of the upper eyelid in this patient was a major predisposing factor for the infection.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (oriental sore) of the eyelid

A 45-year-old American residing along the basin of the Mediterranean Sea developed a cutaneous lesion involving his right lower eyelid. He returned to the United States several months after it first appeared and sought treatment. On clinical examination the lesion was regarded as either a tumor or a cyst. It was excised, and on pathological examination a chronic granulomatous inflammatory lesion, containing innumerable Leishman-Donovan bodies, was found.

The essentials of data sources in eye epidemiology

The extensive literature on eye epidemiology was selectively reviewed to provide a concise and comprehensive summary on the current status of available data sources. The topics being covered were epidemiologic data evaluation, data handling, card registration, computer analysis, geographic factors, socio-economic conditions, personal attributes, genetic backgrounds, twin analysis and laboratory procedures for host defense factors including humoral and cellular immunity. Also, the scope of this article encompassed such major practical issues as glaucoma, cataract and other blinding diseases as well as traffic and occupational hazards. Epidemiologic information thus obtainable through data searching may prove tobe instrumental in the identification of any potential preventive measures in ophthalmology and public health.