PATTERN OF NEUROOPHTHALMIC DISORDERS IN A TERTIARY EYE CARE CENTER INADDIS-ABABA

A neuro-ophthalmic subspeciality clinic was establishes in Ethiopia fo r the first time in September 1993. A total of 700 patients attended t his clinic over a period of two years. Optic nerve lesions (22%), herp es tester ophthalmicus (18%), ocular motor palsies (17%), facial palsy (10%) and papilloedema (7%) were the leading neuro-ophthalmic disorde rs observed. Myasthenia gravis and muscular dystrophies were not rare diseases as well. HIV infection manifested in a variety of neuro-ophth almic disorders. In a significant number of the patients, precise diag noses could not be made due to lack of diagnostic facilities. Most pat ients presented in advanced and irreversible state. Increased awarenes s on the part of patients as well as health care providers is thus of paramount importance in order to avert unnecessary death and blindness , also is underlined the need for improved diagnostic facilities like magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography.