[Vision impairment in the course of lung tuberculosis treatment].

A 51-year-old male patient developed irreversible blindness following pulmonary tuberculosis treatment. The patient's medical history was reviewed, and thorough ophthalmologic examination undertaken (visual acuity, intraocular pressure, Kugel-Perimeter visual field checkup) on initial examination and throughout the next 2 years during the third month treatment with isoniazide, rifampicin, pirazinamide and ethambutol. Ocular symptoms occurred at 3 weeks of the initial symptoms, the patient was examined by an ophthalmologist, and treatment with ethambutol was discontinued; visual impairment progressed to bilateral optic nerve atrophy; almost no signs of improvement were found during the next 2 years of observation, in spite of treatment.

[Causes of blindness in 25% of the blind population in Croatia and the possibilities of prevention].

Aim: To identify the causes of blindness and to launch preventive actions to reduce the prevalence of blindness in Croatia.

Methods: In February 2005, data on 25% of the blind population in Croatia including associations of the blind in the City of Zagreb, Koprivnica-Krizevci County and Medimurje County were analyzed.

Results: The analysis showed the blind to account for 0.