Pediatric eye injuries in a Canadian emergency department

Abstract

Objective: This study assesses the descriptive epidemiology of children with eye injuries presenting to the emergency department of a major Canadian pediatric hospital. Study Design: A retrospective cohort study. Participants: All pediatric patients (up to 18 years of age) presenting with ocular injuries to a tertiary care pediatric emergency department between January 1 and December 31, 2002. Methods: Chart review was conducted using Canadian Hospital Injury Reporting and Prevention Program forms. All injuries were classified by Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT). Results: There were 149 patients who presented with eye injuries to the emergency department in 2002, and all of them were included in the study. Patient ages ranged from 3 months to 18 years with a median age of 8 years 8 months (interquartile range 4–11 years). Boys accounted for 73.2% of the patient total. Most of the cases (57.7%) needed some treatment and required follow-up. Eleven patients (7.3%) had vision-threatening eye injuries that required surgical management, and 3 of these required multiple surgeries. Seven of the 11 patients suffered open globe lacerations, 3 open globe ruptures, and 1 closed globe injury. Conclusions: Most eye injuries occurred at home during the summer, and over 7% of children presenting to the emergency department with eye trauma had vision-threatening injuries that required surgical management. Increasing awareness of the serious nature of ocular injuries will help to develop a comprehensive plan for educating both parents and children to minimize preventable pediatric eye injuries.