Pattern of Childhood Ophthalmic Injuries in Upper Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

2 Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine-Assiut University-Egypt.

3 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine-Assiut University-Egypt.

Abstract

Introduction: Ophthalmic injuries in children represent important health concern that may result in lifelong disfigurements and infirmities. Aim of the work: to describe the pattern of ophthalmic injuries in children admitted to Assiut University Hospitals. Subjects and Methods: This study is a prospective descriptive study included 72 children admitted to causality unit of Assiut University Hospital with ophthalmic injuries in the period from 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2021. Detailed history and ocular examination were performed for the included subjects. The visual status after injury and after initial repair was evaluated. Results: Mean age of the patients was 8.23 ± 4.55 years, and the male patients represented more than half of the cases with percentage of 58.34%. Most cases were from rural areas (87.5%). The highest incidence (97.24 %) of the cases was accidental and only 2.78% was homicidal. The commonest type of injury was blunt trauma, accounting for 43.06% of the total and penetrating injuries by sharp and/or pointed instruments represented 37.5% of cases. While Intraocular foreign body represented 16.67% of cases. More than half of cases (52.78%) had closed globe injuries while 47.23% of cases had open globe injuries. The visual status after injury and after initial repair was less than 1/60 in 44.44 % of cases (32 cases). Conclusion: Ocular trauma represents a major health concern and cause of decreased visual acuity in children. Domestic eye trauma is mainly accidental and could be avoided and thus education of safety measures is required.
Received in original form: 12 October 2021 Accepted in a final form: 30 January 2022

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