Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the state of ocular sequelae and visual dysfunction in individuals with Hansen's disease and evaluate the long-term effects of Hansen's disease on the eyes.
Subjects and methods: We investigated clinical features related to ocular sequelae in the residents of National Sanatorium Tama Zenshoen and outpatients who were examined at the Department of Ophthalmology of the same facility between October 2014 and December 2017.
Results: Of 238 residents registered at Tama Zenshoen at the start of the study, 199 individuals (398 eyes; men: 106, women: 93) who visited the Department of Ophthalmology were included in the study. The mean age was 84.2±8.2 years. Corrected visual acuity in the 179 subjects in whom it was measurable was 0.20±0.16. According to visual dysfunction standards in Japan, 65 subjects (36.3%) were grade6 or above. The main ocular sequelae of Hansen's disease were lagophthalmus in 116 eyes (29.2%), corneal opacity accompanying lagophthalmic keratitis in 66 eyes (16.6%), corneal opacity due to corneal leproma in 25 eyes (6.3%), and band keratopathy in 26 eyes (6.5%). Cataract was observed in 149 eyes (37.4%), pseudophakia in 143 eyes (35.9%), and aphakia in 24 eyes (6.0%). Moreover, uveitis was observed in 27 eyes (6.8%) and phthisis bulbi (including ophthalmectomy) in 40 eyes (10.1%).
Conclusion: Severe visual dysfunction is observed as ocular sequelae in individuals with Hansen's disease in addition to factors related to aging.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 123: 51-57, 2019.