Assessing Ocular Involvements in Childhood Leukemia Insights into Pathophysiology and Treatment

Background: Malignancies such as acute leukemia-in its most common form in pediatric age groups-have been associated with eye involvements; these involvements may arise either because of the disease itself, its secondary complications, or side effects of therapy.

Aim of the study: To ascertain the prevalence of ocular involvement in leukemia patients.

Patients and Methods: Patients with leukemia were admitted to Nanakali Hematology and Oncology Hospital in Erbil from February 1 to May 31, 2024. This study included 120 eyes of 60 leukemia patients (58 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 2 with chronic myeloid leukemia). Patients' ages, sex, and hematological data were recorded. Their eyes were then examined for any lesions. This included determining visual acuity using a Snellen distance chart, flashlight anterior segment examination, slit-lamp examination, and dilated fundus examination with direct ophthalmoscopy. Ocular changes were correlated with hematological data.

Results: Ocular changes were seen in 23 patients with leukemia (38.3%), of which 22 were acute lymphoblastic leukemics, and 1 was chronic myeloid leukemia.

Conclusion: Ophthalmological manifestations in patients with Acute Leukemia are very common; these involvements can either be secondary to direct infiltration of leukemic cells or due to secondary causes of the disease or even treatment of the disease.