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Updated: May 26, 2026
Anterior Segment Organ Culture Platform for Tracking Open Globe Injuries and Therapeutic Performance
Published on: August 25, 2021
Epidemiological characteristics and visual outcome after open globe injuries in children
Ozlem Tok1, Levent Tok, Dilek Ozkaya
1Department of Ophthalmology, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. esattok@yahoo.com
Insights
Pediatric open globe injuries are most common in preschool boys, often caused by pointed metallic objects. Visual prognosis depends on initial visual acuity, trauma score, and wound characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Trauma
- Ocular Injury
Background:
- Open globe injuries represent a significant cause of vision loss in children.
- Understanding the epidemiology and risk factors is crucial for prevention and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the demographic, etiologic, and clinical features of open globe injuries in pediatric patients.
- To identify factors influencing visual outcomes in children with these injuries.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 82 pediatric patients (<16 years) with open globe injuries from 1998-2009.
- Data collected included age, sex, injury cause and location, visual acuity, and clinical signs.
- Injuries were classified using Ocular Trauma Classification Group Guidelines and Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology.
Main Results:
- The majority of injuries occurred in boys (65.8%), with the 3-6 year age group most affected.
- Pointed metallic objects were the primary cause, with injuries frequently occurring in streets and homes.
- Adverse prognostic factors included poor presenting visual acuity, posterior wound location, low ocular trauma score, retinal detachment, afferent pupillary defect, vitreous/uveal prolapse, and hyphema.
Conclusions:
- Open globe injuries in children predominantly affect preschool-aged boys.
- Key determinants of visual prognosis are presenting visual acuity, ocular trauma score, and wound severity/location.
Purpose:
To determine demographic, etiologic, clinical characteristics, visual outcome, and the factors affecting visual prognosis in children with open globe injuries.
Methods:
The medical records of 82 patients under the age of 16 years who presented with open globe injuries from January 1998 to January 2009 were retrospectively examined. Age, sex, involved eye, cause, place of injury, wound location, presenting visual acuity, clinical signs, and final visual acuity were noted. The injuries were classified by Ocular Trauma Classification Group Guidelines and Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology.
Results:
Most injuries occurred in boys (54/82). The mean age was 8.4 ± 3.7 years. Most patients (37.8%) were in the 3- to 6-year age group. All patients had a minimum of 6 months' follow-up (mean, 23.9 ± 23.2 months; range, 6-114). Pointed metallic objects were found to be the main causative agents. Injuries occurred most frequently in streets (36.3%), homes (18.7%), leisure areas (15.4%), and schools (7.7%). Factors adversely affecting visual prognosis were poor presenting visual acuity, posterior wound location, low ocular trauma score, retinal detachment, afferent pupillary defect, vitreous prolapse, uveal tissue prolapse, and hyphema.
Conclusions:
Open globe injuries in children occur most frequently in preschool boys. Prognosis is determined by presenting visual acuity, trauma score, and wound severity and location.
