Factors associated with visual outcome after traumatic hyphema following closed globe injury due to blunt trauma: A tertiary care center study

Abstract

Background: Ocular trauma and its complications are a significant contributor to global visual impairment and often present as an ophthalmic emergency in medical care facilities. Timely intervention is crucial for final visual outcome. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to identify the factors that are correlated with the final visual outcome in cases of traumatic hyphema in a closed globe injury (CGI). Materials and Methods: A single-centric, prospective, interventional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Fifty-three consecutive patients were enrolled in the study over a period of 1 year 5 months who presented with traumatic hyphema due to blunt trauma. Patients with a head injury, any blood dyscrasia, on blood thinners, associated with eye injury other than traumatic and unwilling patients were excluded from the study. Data analysis was done using statistical package for the social sciences software. Results: There was male preponderance. Majority of the study population were in the second decade. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was affected more among those who had hyphema of Grade-II or higher (P = 0.017). BCVA on presentation, posterior segment injury (P = 0.001) was found to be major determinant. Conclusion: We conclude traumatic cataract, corneal blood staining, secondary hemorrhage, time interval between the injury and presentation, BCVA at presentation, posterior segment injuries such as retinal detachment, berlin’s edema, optic atrophy, glaucoma are the major factors that determine the visual outcome. A handful of studies are available in literature regarding the visual outcome in patients with hyphema in CGI due to blunt trauma, but no such study is available from this part of the country.