Search

The article presents information on leptospiral uveitis in developing countries. It explores the epidemiology of the disease, which is known to occur mostly in developing countries with tropical climates. The manifestations of ocular involvement in leptospirosis involve discharge or subconjunctival hemorrhage. Worldwide strategies for fighting leptospirosis, particularly the creation of a website providing updates on leptospirosis incidents, diagnosis, and control, are discussed.

The article discusses the treatment of uveitis in developing countries. It notes on the multifacetedness of the challenges of treating uveitis in developing countries. It describes how developing countries provide an opportunity for the medical profession to learn more information on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of uveitis. The medical, socioeconomic and ethical issues surrounding uveitis treatment are explored.

The article reviews the available epidemiologic data on uveitis from developing countries and compares it with the available data from developed countries. It notes on the demographic differences of uveitis in developing and developed countries. It reveals that posterior uveitis is more common in developing countries, while infectious uveitis is more common in developed countries. The importance of conducting regional studies on the epidemiology of uveitis in developing countries is emphasized.

The article presents information on leprosy uveitis in developing countries. It explores the epidemiology of leprosy, which is described as a chronic communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, and common in the tropical and subtropical countries. It notes that ocular leprosy occurs due to several factors, including nerve damage and aging complications such as glaucoma and cataract. Also discussed are the involvement of ocular damage in lepromatous leprosy and tuberculoid leprosy.

The article discusses visual complications resulting from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Health data shows that the main cause of blindness associated with HIV infection is cytomegalovirus retinitis. Other complications resulting from HIV infection and AIDS include Kaposi sarcoma, molluscum contagiosum and conjunctival microvasculopathy. Recommendations to prevent HIV- and AIDS- induced blindness are presented.

The article discusses strategies to diagnose ocular tuberculosis (TB). Symptoms associated with optical TB are presented. The use of sputum microscopic examination, histologic examination, radiological imaging, nucleic acid amplification (NAA) methods, mycobacteriophage assay and mycobacterial antigens detection technique in the diagnosis of the disease is discussed.

The article reviews information available about human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) from developing countries, including Africa, Asia and Latin America. It notes the demographics of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is considered the epicenter of the disease. The common ocular manifestations of HIV/AIDS are also noted. The prevalence of the disease in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean Area is explored.

A preface to the April 2010 issue of the "International Ophthalmology Clinics" is presented.