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Abstract

Background:\ Thalassemia's are a group of genetic diseases which are considered as the most common single gene disorder which are usually treated with repeated blood transfusions that may lead to iron accumulations in the body with multi organ complications. Objectives:\ The objectives of this study was to evaluate the most commonly observed ocular signs and complications of beta-thalassemia major, as well as to determine whether there are any significant ocular side effects of the iron chelators taken by many of these patients for the treatment of their condition. Materials & Methods:\ this cross sectional study evaluated the medical history of 36 patients with beta-thalassemia major aged between ten and eighteen years old. Every patient received a complete review of their past medical history; a comprehensive physical exam; an extensive eye examination using a slit lamp evaluation to examine both the anterior segment and posterior segment utilizing a Haag-Streit slit lamp. Additionally, the use of Volk lenses was incorporated in the retinal evaluations. Additional testing (i.e., visual field assessment via Zies FDT) was conducted to detect and correlate ocular manifestations of thalassemia within each category of patients and the usage/dosage of iron chelating medication(s). Results:\ Of the study population, ocular findings were detected in 35 percent (n = 12) of the subjects; visual field deficits were the most prevalent ocular abnormality at 40 percent (n = 14). Other ocular findings included bilateral cortical cataracts at 10 percent (n = 3), macular pigmentary stippling at 6.7 percent (n = 2), nuclear sclerosis cataracts at 3.3 percent (n = 1), macular pigmentary mottling at 3.3 percent (n = 1), tortuous blood vessel at 5.2 percent (n = 1), disc hyperemia at 4.2 percent (n = 1), and heterochromia at 2.5 percent (n = 1). These findings were more prevalent among the older age demographic. Conclusion:\ The majority of visual alterations in beta thalassemia result from the progression and the condition's level of severity. Utilizing iron-chelating drugs to lower blood iron and serum ferritin concentration, together with frequent eye examinations to monitor for adverse effects, may help avoid or postpone ocular problems. Ocular problems are very common in thalassemia, and patients need to be monitored continuously with yearly eye check-ups.

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Article

First Page

63

Last Page

66

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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