Open Globe Injuries: Classifications and Prognostic Factors for Functional Outcome.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Trauma Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Open globe injuries represent a significant cause of vision loss.
• Understanding prognostic factors is crucial for managing these severe ocular traumas.
• Epidemiological data and injury characteristics inform treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the epidemiology of open globe injuries.
• To evaluate posterior segment involvement as a prognostic factor for functional outcome.
• To identify predictors of visual acuity following open globe injuries.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 151 patients with open globe injuries.
• Data collected included demographics, injury classification (Ocular Trauma Score - OTS), surgical procedures, intraocular pressure (IOP), and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA).
• Correlation analyses were performed between OTS and postoperative CDVA, with a focus on posterior segment involvement.

Main Results:

• The study included 147 eyes; mean age was 42.9 years, with 78.2% males. Workplace injuries accounted for 36.7%.
• Posterior segment involvement (retina, optic nerve) was observed in a significant proportion of patients.
• Patients with posterior segment involvement had significantly worse postoperative CDVA (1.523 ± 0.654 logMAR) compared to those without (0.944 ± 0.708 logMAR), p < 0.01.

Conclusions:

• Posterior segment involvement is a critical negative prognostic factor for visual outcome in open globe injuries.
• Good initial corrected distance visual acuity and injuries limited to zones I and II are predictive of better visual outcomes.
• These findings underscore the importance of assessing posterior segment status for patient management and prognostication.