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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Anterior Segment Organ Culture Platform for Tracking Open Globe Injuries and Therapeutic Performance
Published on: August 25, 2021
Visual outcome of childhood anterior perforating eye injuries: prognostic indicators
R J Baxter1, P R Hodgkins, I Calder
1Department of Ophthalmology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.
Insights
Pediatric anterior globe perforations requiring surgery have a good visual prognosis unless the cornea is significantly involved or the lens is injured in young children. Patient education is crucial for follow-up care.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Trauma Care
Background:
- Anterior globe perforation is a serious ocular injury in children.
- Prompt surgical intervention is often necessary to preserve vision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cases of anterior globe perforation in children under 16 years old.
- To identify factors influencing visual prognosis after surgical repair.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 96 pediatric cases requiring surgical repair for anterior globe perforation.
- Analysis of patient demographics, injury characteristics, and visual outcomes.
Main Results:
- Corneal perforations generally had a good prognosis, except when involving the visual axis, exceeding one-quarter of corneal diameter, or with non-compliance in children under 8.
- Lens injuries in children under 8 had a poor prognosis due to aphakia correction challenges.
- Surgical delay and injury mechanism did not significantly impact prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Visual prognosis in pediatric anterior globe perforation depends on injury location and extent, particularly corneal and lens involvement in younger children.
- Enhanced patient and parent education is recommended to improve follow-up adherence and long-term outcomes.
Abstract:
Ninety-six cases of anterior globe perforation in children less than 16 years old, requiring surgical repair, were reviewed. Seventy-three patients were male and 23 female, with a mean age of 9 years 4 months. Perforation involving just the cornea was associated with a good visual prognosis unless: it involved the visual axis, resulting in corneal scarring and/or significant astigmatism (> 3.0 DS); it involved greater than one-quarter of corneal diameter; or there was non-compliance with spectacles/patching in patients younger than 8 years old. Injuries involving the lens in those younger than 8 years were associated with a far worse prognosis due to the problems of correcting aphakia. Surgical delay and method of injury did not affect prognosis. Some patients fail to re-attend and greater patient/parent education prior to discharge is recommended.
