Clinical features and outcomes of pediatric ocular traumas

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate clinical features and outcomes of pediatric ocular traumas in a tertiary hospital. Material and Methods: Medical records of children under 18 years who underwent surgery for pediatric ocular trauma between January 2018 and December 2021 were reviewed. Ocular traumas were classified according to the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology system. Results: The study included 19 patients (13 males and 6 females). The mean age was 9.83 +/- 5.02 (1-17) years. The mean follow-up was 4.7 +/- 3.7 (1-12) months. Injuries were caused by sharp objects [glass (57%), wires (28.5%), and knife (14.5%)] in 6 patients, and 5 children had blunt trauma. The types of traumas were open globe (52.6%), closed globe (15.8%), eyelid laceration (15.8%), closed globe injury with eyelid laceration (10.5%) and upper canalicular laceration (5.3%). Penetrating injury was detected in 7 children and globe rupture was detected in 2 patients. One patient had an intraocular foreign body. The mean interval between trauma and surgery was 6.2 +/- 11.2 (1-48) hours. Preoperative and postoperative BCVAs were 0.38 +/- 0.43 and 0.55 +/- 0.19, respectively. A corneal scar was observed in 6 eyes, iris deformity was found in 3 eyes, persistent hypotonia occurred in 1 eye and proliferative vitreoretinopathy developed in 1 eye. Discussion: Children who needed surgery for ocular trauma had open globe injuries, notably glass-induced penetrating eye lesions. Pediatric eye injuries may cause persistent ophthalmologic sequelae and visual loss despite proper treatment. Hence, preventing eye injuries in youngsters may prevent lifelong vision loss better than treating them thereafter.