Refractive errors and school performance in Brazzaville, Congo

Background: Wearing glasses before ten years is becoming more common in developed countries. In black Africa, for cultural or irrational reasons, this attitude remains exceptional. This situation is a source of amblyopia and learning difficulties.Objective: To determine the role of refractive errors in school performance in Brazzaville.Design: Case-Witness study.Subjects: The cases’ group was formed by pupils with a record of school delay and actual pupils.Results: Fifty two records were selected 26 cases vs 26 witnesses (52 Cases ‘eyes VS 52 witnesses’ eyes), the mean age was 14 ± 2.40 years VS 11.50 ± 1.80 years (p <0.001). The prevalence of visual loss was 50.00% vs 1.92% (OR = 833, 95%CI 207 - 455, p <0.001). Hyperopia (62.74%) was the main diagnosed ametropia.Conclusion: Refractive errors largely determines pupil performance in schools in Brazzaville, Congo. The routine use of glasses if necessary can reverse this trend

Case series of eye disorders associated with congenital eye syndromes

Background: Congenital diseases are sometimes incompatible with life. Others are, but sometimes at the cost of suffering for the child and family. These abnormalities often have a rich symptomatology and interest several specialties. Ocular signs rarely help in prenatal diagnosis. After birth, the ophthalmologist may contribute to early diagnosis of these diseases generally serious.Objective: To identify ophthalmological signs of some congenital diseases.Design: A descriptive and transversal study.Subjects: Four children were seen between January 2012 and December 2014 for ophthalmological damages due to congenital disease.Results: Ophthalmological lesions observed were: lens subluxation with high myopia due to Marfan's syndrome, retinitis pigmentosa and obesity due to Bardet-Biedl's syndrome, cryptophthalmia due to Fraser's syndrome, dermoid cyst in a context of Goldenhar's syndrome.Conclusion: The ophthalmologist can be the first to move towards the congenital disease diagnosis