Editorial: Updates on Ocular Trauma.

Abstract

Ocular trauma is a significant cause of visual impairment worldwide. It is estimated that nineteen million people worldwide have uniocular blindness from traumatic injury. [1] Severe ocular trauma remains a challenge for physicians and may cause permanent blindness and even loss of eyeball. As ocular trauma refers exclusively to globe trauma, the use of the term 'ophthalmic trauma' has been recommended to involve globe, adnexal and orbital trauma. Recently, advances in research and data analytics have promoted our understanding and management of ocular trauma. Molecular biology of human tissues and animal models have revealed inflammation with unique molecular pathways in the pathogenesis of various types of ocular trauma.[2] The application of in vivo imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomography[3], adaptive optics laser scanning ophthalmoscopy, has also helped us better understand the mechanism of damage to ocular tissues by external injuries. The advances of microinvasive vitrectomy, other surgical techniques, and novel surgical materials have improved the outcome of ocular trauma. The International Globe and Adnexal Trauma Epidemiology Study (IGATES) registry have furthered the research in Ophthalmic trauma by facilitating global collaboration through a secure web-based platform for capturing both prospective and retrospective data by asking critical questions in patients with an eye injury. [