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Gun trauma and ophthalmic outcomes
N Chopra1,2, K A Gervasio1,2,3, B Kalosza4
1Department of Ophthalmology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Eye (London, England)
|December 23, 2017
Summary
Survivors of gunshot wounds to the head frequently experience long-term visual damage. This study found 44% of survivors had permanent vision loss, highlighting a critical need for more research on ocular trauma from gun violence.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Trauma Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Gunshot wounds to the head are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity.
- Ocular injuries resulting from head trauma are often severe and can lead to permanent vision loss.
- Research on visual outcomes following firearm injuries to the head is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the visual outcomes in patients who survive gunshot wounds to the head.
- To identify factors influencing visual prognosis after head trauma from firearms.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from a trauma registry and data warehouse over 16 years.
- Included patients aged over 16 with gunshot wounds to the head and ocular trauma.
- Statistical analysis utilized bivariate analysis (chi-squared test).
Main Results:
- Out of 915 head trauma victims, 27 (3.0%) had ocular injuries.
- Of 22 accessible records, 18 survived; 8 (44%) experienced long-term visual damage.
- Injury location, gun type, cause, and Glasgow Coma Scale eye score did not predict visual loss.
Conclusions:
- Survivors of gunshot wounds to the head have a high incidence of long-term visual impairment (44%).
- Current data suggests that factors like injury location or gun type do not reliably predict visual outcomes.
- Further research is warranted to understand and mitigate visual consequences of head trauma from gun violence.
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