[Management of ophthalmologic emergencies in general emergency departments: A retrospective multicenter study]

The growing shortage of working ophthalmologists makes it more difficult for the patient to access ophthalmological care, especially in an emergent context. These patients are thus taken to general emergency departments for ophthalmologic problems.

To observe the epidemiological characteristics of ophthalmic patients in general emergency centers and question the emergency physicians on their practice of ophthalmology.

A retrospective epidemiological study was conducted in the emergency departments of Rennes, Lorient and Saint-Brieuc over a period of three months. The demographic characteristics, diagnoses, examinations and procedures performed, opinions obtained from ophthalmologists and patient outcomes were studied. A qualitative study by online questionnaire was sent to the emergency physicians.

Seven hundred and eighty-one patients were included, mainly men (68%) under 35 years (45%). The most frequent diagnosis was extra-ocular foreign body (32%). An ophthalmologist opinion was requested in 79% within 24hours. The online questionnaire was sent to 74 emergency physicians: 92% of them were willing to participate in additional training, 90% had sufficient means to practice ophthalmology in the emergency room.

Emergency physicians could handle the most frequent ophthalmological emergencies, extra-ocular foreign bodies and minor trauma, with adapted material resources, autonomy for these conditions, and willingness for ophthalmologic training. Protocols could be proposed in order to optimize the care of these patients.