Visual prognosis in patients with traumatic choroidal rupture

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Trauma care
• Retinal diseases

Background:

• Limited literature exists on the long-term visual prognosis of choroidal ruptures.
• Traumatic choroidal ruptures result from blunt ocular trauma.
• Assessing long-term visual recovery and identifying prognostic indicators are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term visual prognosis of patients with traumatic choroidal ruptures.
• To identify factors influencing visual recovery after choroidal rupture.
• To investigate visual outcomes based on rupture location, multiplicity, and patient age.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 32 patients with traumatic choroidal rupture (ICD code 363.63).
• Inclusion criteria: photographic/drawn evidence of rupture, demographic data, and follow-up visual acuity.
• Data collected: injury mechanism, rupture location (foveal, juxtafoveal, extrafoveal), initial/final visual acuity, associated findings, and follow-up duration.

Main Results:

• Mean final visual acuity was 20/68 (foveal), 20/35 (juxtafoveal), and 20/60 (extrafoveal) after 3.5-4.5 years.
• No significant difference in final visual acuity or follow-up length between location subgroups.
• Patients with multiple ruptures (20/31) and single ruptures (20/47) showed similar outcomes.
• Pediatric patients (<15 years) achieved a mean final vision of 20/34, comparable to adults (20/44).

Conclusions:

• Traumatic choroidal ruptures, including those involving the fovea, can achieve good visual recovery with extended follow-up.
• Rupture multiplicity does not necessarily predict a poor visual outcome.
• Children with choroidal ruptures demonstrate favorable final visual acuity.