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Severe ocular injuries from improperly disposed medical syringes in children

Ashraf K Al-Hussaini1, Tarek A Shazly

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt.

Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
|March 31, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Improperly disposed syringes cause severe ocular injuries in children, including endophthalmitis and vision loss. Delayed presentation significantly worsens visual outcomes, highlighting the need for prompt medical attention.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Syringe injuries in children can lead to severe ocular complications.
  • Improper disposal of syringes presents a significant risk in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the spectrum of ocular injuries caused by syringes in children.
  • To analyze the visual outcomes and identify risk factors associated with these injuries.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records of 12 children with syringe-induced ocular injuries.
  • Analysis of injury types, treatment timelines, and final visual acuity.

Main Results:

  • Common injuries included endophthalmitis, panophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and traumatic cataract.
  • Despite prompt treatment initiation, delayed patient presentation (average 8.4 days) was noted.
  • Final visual acuity was poor in most assessed patients, ranging from no light perception to counting fingers.

Conclusions:

  • Syringe-related ocular trauma in children can result in devastating visual impairment.
  • Delayed presentation is a critical factor impacting visual prognosis.
  • Safe syringe disposal practices are crucial to prevent pediatric ocular injuries.

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