Paediatric ocular trauma in a tertiary eye care center in Eastern India

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Trauma Surgery

Background:

• Pediatric ocular trauma represents a significant cause of vision impairment in children.
• Understanding the epidemiology and patterns of injury is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the patterns and outcomes of pediatric ocular trauma.
• To identify common causes and settings of eye injuries in children.
• To evaluate management strategies and visual outcomes in a tertiary eye center.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study was conducted reviewing records of 672 pediatric patients (≤16 years) with ocular trauma.
• Data collected included patient demographics, injury type, cause, location, treatment, and visual outcome.
• The study period was from April 2009 to March 2010 at a tertiary referral center in eastern India.

Main Results:

• Boys constituted 70% of cases, with the 5-10 year age group being most affected.
• Closed globe injuries were most common (62.19%), followed by open globe injuries (19%) and orbital injuries (7.67%).
• The home was the most frequent site of injury (44%), and 68 patients experienced severe visual loss, including monocular blindness.

Conclusions:

• Home-based injuries are prevalent, highlighting the need for targeted prevention.
• Improving parental education and public awareness is essential to reduce the incidence of pediatric ocular trauma.
• Timely medical attention is critical, as only 51.9% of patients sought care within 24 hours.