A prospective study of pattern and visual outcome in paediatric occular trauma in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Introduction:Ocular trauma is an important cause of ocular morbidity and represents the most common ocular emergency. Ocular injuries range from subconjunctival hemorrhage, without much visual significance to sight-threatening injuries such as globe ruptures and retinal detachments.

Materials and Methods:A prospective study was done among children who reported with ocular trauma to the department of ophthalmologybetween June 2016 to June 2018. 100 children with ocular trauma who were less than 18 y of age were included in this study. Uncooperative children and who could not attend the follow up were excluded. Classification of Pieramici et al was adapted in this study. Clinical assessment of every patient was done by obtaining Visual acuity, age, sex, duration from time of injury to reporting in the hospital, place of injury, aetiology of injury and local examination. Ocular examination best corrected Pre-treatment visual acuity with Snellen chart or multiple picture test in verbal children, whereas in preverbal children. Estimation of visual acuity was done by fixing and following the light or by hundred and thousand sweet tests. Results:Of the 100 patients 48 had visual acuity (pre-treatment) > 6/12, 18 patients have visual acuity 6/18– 6/36 and 3 cases had NOPL . In the final visual outcome 63% patients had good visual acuity > 6/12, 23% had visual acuity 6/18–6/36. 9% patients had visual acuity 6/60–2/60 and 2% cases has visual acuity 1/60 to PL. 3% cases had NOPL. The comparison of pre-treatment visual outcome was statistically significant at 0.01% level.Conclusion:By identifying the underlying etiological factor and determining the appropriate management, good visual acuity can be achieved in children with closed globe injuries who present early irrespective of the type of injury.

Key Words:Ocular trauma, Visual acuity, NOPL.