How does leprosy affect the eyes?

The major causes of visual disability and blindness in leprosy are corneal disease secondary to lagophthalmos and corneal anaesthesia, anterior uveitis and cataract. About 0.5 to 1% of leprosy patients would be blind owing to the disease, and an additional of 1 to 2% owing to age related cataract (1).

What does leprosy do to your eyes?

leprae can cause eye damage

Inflammation of the coloured part of the eye (the iris) can cause redness, pain, and if untreated can lead to blindness.

Can leprosy cause cataracts?

Cataract. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness among leprosy patients and can be responsible for as many as 40–50% of all cases (Figure 1).

What are the 3 main symptoms of leprosy?

What is the most noticeable symptom of leprosy?

The first noticeable sign of leprosy is often the development of pale or pink coloured patches of skin that may be insensitive to temperature or pain. Patches of discolored skin are sometimes accompanied or preceded by nerve problems including numbness or tenderness in the hands or feet.

Eye in Leprosy || Dr. Niha Aggarwal

What does a person with leprosy look like?

Signs of leprosy are painless ulcers, skin lesions of hypopigmented macules (flat, pale areas of skin), and eye damage (dryness, reduced blinking). Later, large ulcerations, loss of digits, skin nodules, and facial disfigurement may develop. The infection spreads from person to person by nasal secretions or droplets.

Is lupus and leprosy the same?

Leprosy mimics systemic autoimmune diseases, mainly lupus. In patients from geographic areas in which leprosy is prevalent, leprosy must be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with SLE-like systemic autoimmune diseases and/or aPL with atypical features.

What are the cardinal signs of leprosy?

What is the root cause of leprosy?

Leprosy is caused by a slow-growing type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease, after the scientist who discovered M. leprae in 1873.

What happens if leprosy is left untreated?

Leprosy was once feared as a highly contagious and devastating disease, but now we know it doesn't spread easily and treatment is very effective. However, if left untreated, the nerve damage can result in crippling of hands and feet, paralysis, and blindness.

Does leprosy cause glaucoma?

Extension of the disease to the iris and to the ciliary body can lead to a severe and prolonged uveitis, which can be associated with extensive anterior or posterior synechiae. Repeated attacks usually lead to extensive iris atrophy and intractable secondary glaucoma.

What does lagophthalmos mean?

Lagophthalmos describes the incomplete or abnormal closure of the eyelids. A full eyelid closure with a normal blink reflex is necessary for the maintenance of a stable tear film and healthy ocular surface.

Does leprosy contagious?

Leprosy, also called Hansen's disease, is a contagious disease. One way it spreads is from person to person.

What is a legion in the eye?

A choroidal nevus is a flat, benign pigmented area that appears in the back of the eye and is basically an eye freckle. If your doctor refers to a lesion in your eye that needs to be tracked, she is most likely talking about a choroidal nevus.

What causes corneal ulcer in leprosy?

We report a case of corneal ulceration caused by N. asteroides in a patient with leprosy. This is the first case report of nocardial keratitis from Southeast Asia. The diminished corneal sensation in a patient with leprosy could be a predisposing factor for development or exacerbation of corneal ulceration.

What is iris atrophy?

General Discussion. Essential iris atrophy is a very rare, progressive disorder of the eye characterized by a pupil that is out of place and/or distorted areas of degeneration on the iris (atrophy), and/or holes in the iris. This disorder most frequently affects only one eye (unilateral) and develops slowly over time.

What are the two symptoms of leprosy?

Can leprosy be painful?

Pain is common among patients with leprosy and is multifactorial, but especially associated with nerve damage, leprosy reactions, and neuritis. This is an important consideration, as even after adequate treatment and bacteriological cure, pain may present as a new disabling condition.

Is leprosy a virus or a bacteria?

Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) is a chronic infectious disease that primarily affects the peripheral nerves, skin, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and nasal mucosa (lining of the nose). The disease is caused by a bacillus (rod-shaped) bacterium known as Mycobacterium leprae.

What is borderline leprosy?

Borderline leprosy is characterized by hypochromic plaques that are well defined and have apparent central sparing of the skin. Skin findings may include papules, plaques, macules, or nodules and the lesions are sometimes described as having a “Swiss cheese” appearance. ³²⁹. Acid-fast smears often are strongly positive ...

When should you suspect leprosy?

The cardinal signs of leprosy are: Loss of sensation in a skin lesion. Enlarged peripheral nerve. Positive skin smears.

Is leprosy an autoimmune disease?

Leprosy usually has a long incubation period and may manifest with a variety of autoimmune phenomena reminiscent of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or rheumatoid arthritis.

Who is most at risk for leprosy?

Leprosy can develop at any age but appears to develop most often in people aged 5 to 15 years or over 30. It is estimated that more than 95% of people who are infected with Mycobacterium leprae do not develop leprosy because their immune system fights off the infection.

Is leprosy a systemic disease?

Systemic changes. Leprosy may affect multiple organ systems, most often in MB patients, particularly in lepromatous, often causing no symptoms. Such involvement may be caused by bacteremia with M. leprae, but, most often, the reactional states are responsible for this health impairment.