Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Surgical Correction for Pediatric Epiblepharon and Trichiasis
Published on: July 8, 2025
Pediatric Ocular Trauma during Eid Festivities in Yemen
Tariek M Aldoais1,2, Mahfouth A Bamashmus3, Amal N Aldubhani2,4
1Ophthalmic Department, Al-Thawra Teaching Hospital, Sana'a, Yemen.
Insights
Toy guns and fireworks caused most childhood eye injuries during Eid festivities in Yemen. Public health education is crucial to prevent these preventable traumas.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Trauma
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood ocular trauma is a significant public health concern.
- Holiday periods can see an increase in eye injuries among children.
- Understanding injury patterns is vital for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the causes of ocular trauma in children under 17 during Eid festivities in Sana'a, Yemen.
- To analyze the types of injuries and their circumstances.
- To inform public health interventions.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational case series.
- Study conducted in two tertiary emergency hospitals in Sana'a, Yemen.
- Included 160 children under 17 with ocular trauma during Eid Al-Fitr 2016.
Main Results:
- 160 male children (mean age 9.59 years) presented with ocular injuries.
- Most injuries (95%) occurred outdoors, primarily from toy guns and fireworks.
- Common findings included hyphema, corneal laceration, and corneal abrasion.
Conclusions:
- Toy guns and fireworks are major causes of severe childhood eye injuries during holidays.
- These injuries often require medical intervention and can lead to long-term complications.
- Health education programs are essential to raise awareness among parents and professionals.
Purpose:
We sought to elucidate causes of ocular trauma in children younger than 17 years of age during the Eid festivities in Sana'a, Yemen.
Methods:
A prospective observational case series study was conducted in two tertiary emergency hospitals (Al-Thawra and Magrabi Hospital). The Eid Al-Fitr festive holidays in 2016 lasted 10 days from July 3 to 12. All children up to 17 years of age presenting with ocular trauma were included in the study. All patients underwent detailed history-taking and examination concerning ocular trauma.
Results:
One hundred sixty children presented to the two hospitals with ocular injury. All were males (100%). The mean ± standard deviation age was 9.59 ± 4.92 years (range, 4-15 years). The injury involved the right eye in 84 children (52.5%) and the left eye in 76 (47.5%) children. The majority of injuries (n = 152, 95.0%) had occurred in the street, while eight (5.0%) had happened at home. The most frequent cause of injury was toy guns and fireworks, while the most frequent findings were hyphema, corneal laceration, and corneal abrasion.
Conclusions:
The causes of ocular injuries are diverse and tend to vary by geographical area. In particular, their incidence can increase during holidays, especially long ones. Usually, eye injuries with toy guns result in significant trauma that requires medical intervention and hospitalization with potential long-term eye complications. Public health workers need to conduct health education program to alert parents and health professionals to the danger of such toys.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Accessory Structures of the Eye
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways