OCULAR MANIFESTATIONS OF LEUKEMIA IN ETHIOPIANS

A prospective ophthalmic evaluation of 74 newly diagnosed and 34 old ( on follow-up) leukaemic patients, carried out from March 1990 to Decem ber 1995 is described. Primary ocular involvement, that is leukaemic r etinal infiltrates, were detected in 32% of the newly diagnosed. In co ntrast, none of the old leukaemic patients had this lesion. In 69% of the new and 21% of the old cases, secondary ocular manifestations of l eukaemia were observed. The major secondary ocular manifestation of le ukaemia in both groups was intra-retinal haemorrhage. A variety of mis cellaneous ocular findings, such as cataract, pterygium, pingeculae, e tc. were detected in 36% of all leukemics. These findings indicate the importance of a complete ophthalmologic evaluation in the diagnosis, follow-up and management of leukaemic patients.