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Impact Of Media On Ocular Trauma In Our Setup
Danish Zafar1, Faiza Akram2, Zainab Faisal1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Insights
Children mimicking the TV drama Ertughral Ghazi experienced a rise in ocular injuries. This study highlights the need for safety strategies to prevent eye trauma in children imitating television characters.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ocular injuries are a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness globally.
- Hospital-based surveys may underestimate the true incidence of ocular trauma.
- A notable increase in pediatric eye injuries was observed following the broadcast of the TV drama Ertughral Ghazi.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the TV drama Ertughral Ghazi and an increase in pediatric ocular injuries.
- To raise awareness about the risks of children imitating television characters.
- To emphasize the need for preventative safety strategies.
Main Methods:
- A case series study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology.
- Data was collected from April 16th to June 7th, 2021.
- The study focused on pediatric patients presenting with eye injuries.
Main Results:
- Ten patients sustained ocular injuries from playing roles depicted in the Ertughral Ghazi series.
- Injuries were primarily caused by wooden arrows.
- Outcomes included blindness in 2 eyes, severe visual loss in 6 eyes, and minor lid or conjunctival lacerations in 2 eyes.
Conclusions:
- There is an increased burden of ocular trauma linked to children imitating TV drama content.
- Urgent implementation of health education and safety strategies is necessary.
- Preventative measures are crucial to mitigate eye injuries in children exposed to such media.
Background:
Ocular injuries are one of the most common causes of monocular visual impairment and blindness worldwide. However, surveys done in only hospitals underestimate the incidence of oculars trauma. Aim of the study was to draw the attention towards significant increase in eye injuries amongst, or by, the children in few months in our setup following the start of airing of the drama series Ertughral Ghazi on television. It is the need of the day to plan safety strategies for prevention of ocular injuries in children or by the children who view the drama series.
Method:
Case series study was done in Department of Ophthalmology, Ayub Medical and Teaching Institution, Abbottabad from 16thApril to 7th June 2021.
Results:
We had 10 patients with similar type of injuries but with different severity and extent due to wooden arrows while playing out the role of protagonists shown in the Ertughral Ghazi television series. Out of 10 eyes, 2 eyes got blind, 6 eyes were significantly damaged with profound visual loss and 1 eye had only lid laceration while1 eye had just conjunctival laceration near limbus.
Conclusion:
The current burden of several ocular traumas connected to the playacting by the children mimicking the TV drama has increased. Health education, information dissemination of and safety strategies should be planned and executed to prevent such injuries.
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