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Epidemiology, aetiology and outcomes of paediatric ocular trauma: a population-level study in Northern Ireland
Michael Marshall1,2, Mohammad Anwar3, Tim Patterson3
1Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Michael.Marshall@belfasttrust.hscni.net.
Insights
Paediatric ocular trauma, often blunt injuries, predominantly affects males in home settings. Chemical and laser eye injuries are also significant causes, highlighting the need for targeted prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ocular trauma is a significant cause of childhood blindness.
- Understanding the epidemiology and causes of pediatric eye injuries is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiology, causes, visual outcomes, and healthcare interactions of pediatric ocular trauma.
- To identify key risk factors and injury mechanisms in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric ocular trauma cases (01 Jan 2017 - 31 Dec 2019).
- Inclusion criteria: patients younger than 16 years old.
- Data collected on demographics, injury aetiology, visual acuity, and service utilization.
Main Results:
- 535 cases reported; median age 8.18 years, 63.8% male.
- Blunt injuries (52%) were most common, followed by chemical (18%) and sharp (16%).
- Most patients achieved good visual acuity (83% ≥ 6/12), but 3% presented with severe vision loss.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric ocular trauma is more common in males and often occurs at home due to blunt force.
- Chemical and laser eye injuries represent a notable proportion of cases.
- Findings underscore the need for targeted prevention efforts for pediatric eye injuries.
Background And Objectives:
Ocular trauma is a major cause of blindness. The objectives of this study were to report epidemiology, aetiology, visual outcomes, and interactions with ophthalmology services of paediatric ocular trauma patients.
Methods:
A retrospective review of consecutive paediatric ocular trauma presentations between 01 January 2017 and 31 December 2019, within the Belfast Trust. Patients were younger than 16 years old at presentation.
Results:
In total, 535 paediatric ocular trauma patients are reported. Epidemiology-Median age was 8.18 years old, with 63.8% of patients being male. Incidence was 0.45 cases per 1000 children aged 0-15, per year. Areas were ranked according to deprivation measures, incidence ranged from 0.43 in the 2nd quintile to 0.64 in the quintile with lowest deprivation measures. Aetiology-Blunt (n = 277, 52%), chemical (n = 96, 18%), sharp (n = 87, 16%), and laser injuries (n = 27, 5%) were the most common mechanisms. There were 2 open globe injuries reported (1.7 per 1,000,000 children aged 0-15, per year). Visual outcomes-Visual acuity at presentation was available for 408 eyes (72%), with 174 (43%) achieving 6/6 or better and 338 (83%) 6/12 or better. 6 eyes (3%) presented with vision worse than 6/60; three improved to better than 6/12 at follow-up, and two remained worse than 6/60. Ophthalmology services-16 patients (3.0%) were admitted.
Conclusions:
Paediatric ocular trauma occurs most commonly in males, in the home setting, with a blunt injury mechanism. Chemical and laser eye mechanisms contribute a significant proportion of presentations.
