Sickle Cell Retionapathy

We have conducted screening programmes at King's College Hospital for the assessment of the ocular manifestations of sickle cell disease in adults as well as in children. We have followed the same protocol used in the cohort study carried out in Jamaica. Fundus flourescein angiograms were performed on patients over the age of five. Our findings were compared to those of the Jamaican cohort. The studies were agreed by the Medical ethical committee at King's College Hospital. Some of the results have already been published. We have also documented some cases of retionopathy in patiens with AS and AC haemoglobinopathy. The eye is an invaluable window that provides an opportunity to assess the presence and progression of small vessel disease. The ocular manifestations of sickle cell haemoglobinopathies provide useful clues to the understanding of this condition. I propose to present a summary of our results so far. This study was supported by the locally organized research scheme and was conducted in association with Professor Alastair Bellingham and Dr. Arya from the Haemotology department at King's College Hospital and Professor A C Bird from Moorfields eye Hospital.(AU)