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Ophthalmological examinations were performed in 78 homozygous sickle cell (Hb SS) patients, aged 4-42 years attending the sickle cell clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the University Clinic, Jos, in Nigeria. Conjunctival signs present in about 77% of cases were observed in all ages and sexes. White without pressure present in 62.8% of the cases was the commonest retinal sign and in 56.3% of the cases was associated with peripheral retinal vessel disease. Salmon patches (6.4%), iridescent spots (10.3%), mottled brown areas (16.7%) and black sunbursts (7.7%) were seen as early as 10 years of age but showed an upward trend with age. Peripheral retinal vessel disease present in 52.5% of the cases was the second commonest retinal sign and with the exception of arteriolar occlusion showed no sex predilection, but an upward trend with age. Arterio-venous anastomosis (7.7%), vitreous haemorrhages and veils (3.8%) were the only severe proliferative signs noted. There were no cases of retinal neovascularization, retinal detachment or of angoid streaks, and the posterior poles were normal. Retinal signs were present as early as 8 years of age and showed an upward trend with age.

Eleven cases of macular degeneration occurring between the ages of 22 years and 40 years are presented. All the patients gave positive history of chloroquine intake and outdoor activity. In 4 of the 11 cases, pterygium was an associated ocular finding. The female to male ratio was 3 to 1. The macular lesions were bilateral and symmetrical in all the cases. It is postulated that the effect of chronic chloroquine ingestion exacerbated by chronic light toxicity might be responsible for this type of macular degeneration presenting in adults.

A case report of the rare Lawrence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl Syndrome in a 10-year old Nigerian boy is presented. The findings were obesity, mental retardation, polydactyly hypogonadism, macula degeneration and retinities pigmentosa.

3005 primary school children from randomly selected primary schools in Jos and its environ were screened for trachoma. The schools were divided into 3 groups reflecting the socio-economic status, and the degree of personal hygiene of the pupils. The prevalence of trachoma was 7.5% in the group A schools attended by the children of the rich, 15.9% in the group B schools attended by children of the poor but living in the urban town and 19.4% in group C schools attended by children of the poor living in the sub-urban town. The difference in the prevalence and severity of trachoma in the 3 groups was found to be statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Trachoma was found to be more common in freshly scholarised pupils as compared to pupils in the terminal class. There was no difference in the frequency of trachoma among girls and boys in our study group. The type of water used in bathing was not found to be important in the prevalence of trachoma. The authors next discussed the simplicity of the Dawson's classification, the need to start a trachoma control programme in Nigeria and the possible role of community health workers in any programme for the eradication of trachoma.

A 13-year old Nigerian boy presented with a painless swelling which had grown, over ten years, into a pulsatile monstrous deformity of the left side of the face. Histology of the excised tissue showed a plexiform neurofibroma. It manifested with cutaneous, ocular and bony features. There was also a left eye optic nerve glioma. The case is presented and used to highlight the clinicopathological manifestations of orbital plexiform neurofibroma.