CORNEAL SENSITIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH LEPROSY AND IN CONTROLS

Aims-In a quantitative prospective study the corneal sensation in pati ents with leprosy was compared with age matched controls. Methods-The patients with leprosy were classified as paucibacillary and multibacil lary and were divided in three groups: (1) patients without clinically detectable eye pathology; (2) patients with lagophthalmos, (3) patien ts with signs of iridocyclitis. The corneal sensitivity was assessed w ith the Cochet and Bonnet aesthesiometer. Results-There was a signific ant decrease in corneal sensitivity in multibacillary patients without clinically detectable eye pathology and in patients with lagophthalmo s or iritis when compared with controls. A significant correlation bet ween the loss of power of the orbicularis oculi muscle and the degree of corneal sensation loss could not be established. No significant dec rease in corneal sensitivity was found in paucibacillary patients with out eye pathology compared with the control group. Conclusion-The resu lts of this study showed that loss of corneal sensation can occur whil e there is no clinically detectable eye pathology, at least in multiba cillary patients. Regular checkups of the corneal sensation should, th erefore, be part of the routine control of leprosy patients. Health ed ucation on eye care and early warning signs should be encouraged.