Tracing Ocular Conditions in 15,921 Interwar Refugees, Veria, Greece (1926-1940)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This historical epidemiological study aims to investigate ocular conditions in Greek refugees during the Interwar period (1926-1940) in the region of Imathia, Greece. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The archival material encompasses 15,921 patients who were admitted to the Refugee Hospital of Veria, Imathia, Greece. Descriptive statistics were estimated. RESULTS: Twenty-two cases of ocular conditions were identified. Ten patients had anterior segment conditions, such as keratitis, blepharoconjunctivitis, conjunctivitis, epithelioma, leukoma and an operated cataract. Another patient was diagnosed with ocular trachoma. Four patients presented sympathetic ophthalmia; two additional patients suffered from ophthalmia due to syphilis. One patient was diagnosed with ocular malaria. Four cases of ocular traumas were recorded, among which an ocular burn due to gunpowder, a motorcycle accident leading to a retro-ocular hematoma, and a kick in the eye resulting in ocular trauma were notable. CONCLUSION: The disease spectrum in Greek refugees reflects the adverse conditions during the Interwar era.