Editorial: Ocular surface disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and call for action

Authors

  • Dr.Anne Ampaire Musika Department of Ophthalmology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64666/joecsa.2026.92

Abstract

The ocular surface is a dynamic functional unit comprising of the cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids, eyelashes, lacrimal apparatus and the tear film and any disorder in these structures can be classified as an Ocular Surface Disorder (OSD)1. The OSDs are vast, including majorly, Dry Eye Disease (DED), Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), Allergic Eye Diseases (AED), pterygium, followed by conjunctival infections including trachoma, corneal infections and dystrophies, Vitamin A Deficiency (VADD)2, blepharitis, and ocular surface neoplastic conditions, such as Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia (OSSN), Kaposi’s sarcoma, conjunctival lymphoma and conjunctival melanoma3. OSDs may also include chemical and thermal burns as well as autoimmune reactions such as Steven Johnson syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

Author Biography

Dr.Anne Ampaire Musika, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Dr. Anne Ampaire Musika is an ophthalmologist since 2004, clinical epidemiologist/ biostatistician and lecturer since 2014 at Makerere University College of Health Sciences. She is an orbit and oculoplastics surgeon and ocular oncologist at Mulago National Referral Hospital. She is the coordinator for the ICO exams in Uganda and is a member of the School of Medicine Research Ethics Committee (Makerere University). Her research interests include orbital tumors, ocular TB and HIV, glaucoma, residency training curriculum, diabetic retinopathy, and ocular trauma. She has participated in clinical trials for ocular safety of therapy for multidrug resistance TB and is currently co-investigator on ocular malignancies with Aids Malignancy Consortium.

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Published

2026-04-29

How to Cite

Ampaire Musika, A. (2026). Editorial: Ocular surface disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and call for action. Journal of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (JOECSA), 15(01). https://doi.org/10.64666/joecsa.2026.92

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 01 (2026): Volume 15, Number 01, March 2026 - Journal of Ophthalmology of Eastern Central and Southern Africa

Section

Editorials

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr.Anne Ampaire Musika

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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