Pattern of ocular emergencies seen at L.U.T.H. over a period of 1 year

To determine the commonest type of ocular emergencies seen at L.U.T.H. over a period of one year.

Data of all consecutive patients seen as emergencies within the designated period was taken. These included age, sex, symptoms, signs, agents of injury, duration and the complications.

A total of 304 patients were seen. 207 (68.0%) of them were males, while 97 (32.0%) of them were females giving a ratio of 2.1:1. Out of the total number, 159 (52.3%) had non-injurious emergencies. Of the 145 (47.7%) injurious emergencies, blunt trauma was the commonest with 77 patients (25.3%). Penetrating trauma was next in frequency with 37 patients (12.2%) as compared to blunt injury with 77 patients. Foreign body injuries were seen in 18 patients (5.9%), followed by chemical injuries which constituted the least with 13 patients (4.3%).

Majority of the ocular emergencies seen were due to non-injurious type, while blunt trauma was the commonest of the injurious type.

Health education and awareness creation should be intensified on the various causes of the ocular emergencies, more importantly on the non-injurious causes to prevent the resultant ocular morbidity.