Epidemiological study of chemical and thermal ocular injuries at a rural hospital in eastern Maharashtra

Abstract

Chemical and thermal injuries to the eye may be rare incidence but are not uncommon and pose one of the challenging areas of practice for ophthalmologists irrespective of area of practice. The present study was undertaken in department of ophthalmology at Ashwini Rural Medical College and Research Center, Kumbhari, Solapur between 1at Jan 2013 to 31 Dec 2014, which is over a period of 2 years. A total 40 patients were included in the study after counseling and written informed consent was also taken individually in each case. Every possible details regarding the injury including- Sociodemographic factors, chemical nature of agent, mode of injury, duration lapsed between injury and presentation to hospital were recorded on a pretested Proforma. Males and students were most commonly affected by ocular injuries. Lime is a common agent causing ocular chemical injury. Children (1-10 years) were relatively most commonly affected age group. Chemical injuries due to alkaline lime were most common cause for ocular injury.