FREQUENCY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAEDIATRIC OCULAR TRAUMA ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Objective: To assess the etiological factors and circumstances associated with the occurrence of eye injuries in children attending a tertiary care pediatric ophthalmology department. Methodology: This study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Civil Hospital, Karachi from August 2007 to July 2009. Personal information, clinical findings and management plan was recorded on a prescribed performa. Variables studied included: age, sex, date of injury, place of injury, involved eye, circumstance and mechanism of injury, initial visual acuity and immediate management. Results: A total of 462 patients under the age of 16 years presented with ocular trauma. There were 297(64.3%) males and 165(35.7%) females. Mean age was 7.03 ± 3.61 years. Most cases 198 (42.9%) belonged to the schoolgoing age group (6 to 11years). The injuries occurred most frequently at home (215 patients, 46.5%).Blunt trauma occurred in 228(49.4%) cases followed by penetrating in 162(35.1%) cases. Injuries restricted to the eyelid occurred in 61 (13.2%) accidents, closed globe injury occurred in 338 (73.1%) and open globe injury in 63 (13.7%) accidents. Visual acuity was better than 6/12 in 245 (53.0%) children. Two hundred and fifteen children (46.5%) were prescribed only general measures like pressure patching, warm or cold compresses antibiotics or lubricant eye drops. Surgical management was required in 121(26.2%) patients. Conclusions: This study has shown frequencies of different type of ocular trauma which can be minimized by taking preventive measures as adopted in developed countries.