Related Experiment Videos
Compliance with safety glasses wear in monocular children
Insights
Safety glasses compliance is high in children with one eye removed. Wearing protective eyewear, such as polycarbonate safety glasses, can prevent serious accidents and protect the remaining eye.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Public Health
Background:
- Children with one eye removed (monocular) or functionally monocular are at high risk for further eye injury.
- Preventing injury to the remaining eye is crucial for maintaining vision and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the compliance with safety glasses wear in pediatric patients with enucleation.
- To assess the effectiveness of safety glasses in preventing injury to the remaining eye in this population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of pediatric patients (< 21 years old) who underwent enucleation.
- Analysis of patient data from the University of Iowa Pediatric Ophthalmology Service (1962-1991).
Main Results:
- Of 33 respondents, 15 reported accidents where safety glasses protected their good eye.
- Compliance with safety glasses wear was observed to be good among the studied children.
Conclusions:
- Prescribing polycarbonate safety glasses is recommended for all monocular and functionally monocular children.
- Consistent use of safety glasses can significantly reduce the risk of serious eye injury in children with unilateral vision loss.
Abstract:
1. To evaluate compliance with safety glasses wear in these children, we reviewed the charts of all children (< 21 years old) treated with enucleation and followed at the University of Iowa by the Pediatric Ophthalmology Service between 1962 and 1991. 2. Fifteen of the 33 respondents reported at least one potentially serious accident in which the safety glasses had protected the good eye. 3. Compliance with safety glasses wear appears to be good in this population and may prevent injury to the remaining eye. We recommend prescribing polycarbonate safety glasses for all monocular and functionally monocular children regardless of refractive error or gender.