Predictors of visual outcomes in pediatric open globe injuries

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Ocular Trauma

Background:

• Open globe injuries in children are a significant cause of vision loss.
• Identifying predictors of visual outcomes is crucial for effective management and prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of visual outcomes in pediatric patients (≤18 years) with open globe injuries.
• To assess the correlation of Pediatric Ocular Trauma Scores (POTS) and Toddler Ocular Trauma Scores (TOTS) with final visual acuity.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records of 85 pediatric patients with open globe injuries (2012-2020).
• Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of visual outcome.
• Assessment of presenting vision, age at injury, lens involvement, retinal detachment, and injury location.

Main Results:

• Final best-corrected visual acuity was significantly associated with presenting vision, age at injury, lens involvement, retinal detachment, and injury location.
• Presenting visual acuity and retinal detachment were independent predictors of outcome in multivariate analysis.
• POTS and TOTS scores showed moderate correlation with final visual acuity (R²=0.51 and R²=0.53).

Conclusions:

• Patient characteristics, particularly presenting visual acuity and retinal detachment, predict visual outcomes in pediatric open globe injuries.
• While POTS and TOTS scores correlate with visual acuity, their predictive power requires further validation in larger cohorts.
• A multicenter study or registry is needed to develop a more robust predictive model for visual outcomes in pediatric ocular trauma.