Related Experiment Videos
Pediatric ocular injuries in Lesotho
Insights
Pediatric ocular injuries in Lesotho share similarities with developed nations but lack certain causes like BBs and fireworks. Prevention campaigns are recommended to reduce eye injuries in children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Global Health
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric ocular injuries represent a significant public health concern globally.
- Understanding injury patterns is crucial for targeted prevention strategies, especially in developing nations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the epidemiological pattern of pediatric ocular injuries in Lesotho, a developing African country.
- To compare these patterns with those observed in developed countries.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study evaluated 110 children with ocular injuries in Lesotho.
- Data collected included injury mechanisms, types of injuries, and visual outcomes.
Main Results:
- Similarities to developed countries included higher incidence in boys and frequent accidental, self-inflicted, and assault-related injuries.
- Common injuries were corneal lacerations, traumatic cataracts, hyphemas, and lid lacerations.
- Differences included the absence of arrow, BB, firework, toy, and chemical burn injuries, as well as orbital fractures and intra-ocular metallic foreign bodies. Poor visual outcomes were noted for perforating injuries.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric ocular injury patterns in Lesotho show both similarities and unique differences compared to developed countries.
- The findings underscore the need for tailored prevention campaigns to address specific injury causes in the region.
- Improving visual outcomes for severe ocular trauma remains a critical challenge.
Abstract:
One hundred and ten children were evaluated in a prospective study in Lesotho to determine the pattern of pediatric ocular injuries in a developing African country. The pattern was found to be the same as that of developed countries regarding increased incidence in boys, frequency of accidental, self-inflicted and assault injuries, and high incidence of corneal lacerations, traumatic cataracts, hyphemas, and lid lacerations. The pattern differed from developed countries in the absence of injuries due to arrows, airgun pellets (BBs), fireworks, toys and chemical burns, the absence of orbital fractures, intra-ocular metallic foreign bodies, and rarity of retinal detachment, and the generally poor visual results following perforating ocular injuries. An information campaign is advocated in Lesotho to aid in the prevention of pediatric ocular injuries.