A Profile of Ocular Trauma Cases Visiting the Ophthalmology Department in a Tertiary Care Eye Centre

Abstract

Ocular trauma is a significant preventable cause of permanent visual morbidity and has a substantial socioeconomic impact. Hence, it is essential to understand the various causes, presentations, treatment and surgical approaches with regards to the treatment of these cases as well as prevention with safety devices. This paper aims to assess pattern of presentation and risk factors of ocular injuries attending the department of ophthalmology a tertiary care center. This was a retrospective analysis of ocular trauma cases that visited our center between 2018 to 2021 and the various diagnostic techniques and appropriate surgical methods taken with respect to each case, highlighting the visual outcome. A follow-up was maintained in all cases for three years at regular 3-4 months interval. It was found that 50% of injuries were open-globe injuries, 16.7% closed globe injuries and 25% orbital wall fractures. Majority of subjects were in the age group 21-30 years (41.7%) of which 83.3% males. The most common cause of ocular injury was road traffic accidents (66.7%) of which 37.5% were associated with two-wheeler vehicles. 41.6% presented with visual acuity less than 6/60. 83.3% required surgical treatment. 58.2% of eyes regained visual acuity greater than or equal to 6/24 of which 25% regained visual acuity of 6/9. In conclusion, ocular trauma was more common in males following road-traffic accidents particularly with two-wheeler, the majority presenting immediately following the trauma and most required surgical correction.