CLINICAL PROFILE AND VISUAL OUTCOME OF OCULAR INJURIES IN TERTIARY CARE RURAL HOSPITAL

Purpose- 1.To evaluate extent of damage by ocular injury. 2.To find out visual outcome at the end of 2 months after treatment. Material And Methods: A Hospital-based, Prospective, Longitudinal study was conducted at tertiary care hospital. A total of 55 patients with ocular injuries were screened and evaluated. Evaluation was done on the basis of detailed history and examination including visual acuity, anterior segment biomicroscopy, fundus evaluation with 90 D was done. Demographic data, etiology and other significant findings were noted. Inclusion Criteria: 1.Patients with ocular trauma reporting at casualty and ophthalmology OPD were included. 2.Patients irrespective of Age and Gender. Exclusion Criteria: Patients with intrauterine trauma, birth trauma, war trauma, ultrasonic trauma, radiational trauma, stress trauma were not included in the study. Results: 55 patients with ocular injuries were screened out of which: Occurrence of ocular injuries were higher in males 85.45% as compared to females 14.54%. Percentage of ocular injuries were higher in age group more than 40 years 45.45% with male predominance. It was observed that most of the ocular injuries occur while doing domestic work 29.09% as compared to other mode of injuries with contusion trauma 33% being most common type of injury than lamellar laceration 30.90% and penetrating trauma 20%. Left eye 47.27% more commonly affected than right eye 41.81%. Most of the patients presented within 12 hours of injury 54.54% with visual acuity >6/60 43.63%. It was seen that out of 55 patients, 67.27% had normal pupillary reactions,16% had lid tear, 7% had conjunctival foreign body, 5% had conjunctival tear,20% had corneal foreign body, 23.63% had scelerocorneal tear, 9% had hyphema on anterior segment examination and posterior segment findings included retinal hemorrahages 5%. On follow up after 2 months, majority of the treated patients presented with visual acuity of >6/60 89.09%. Conclusion: Ocular injury is one of the commonest causes of monocular blindness. Ocular injury can occur in any age group, but more common in adult age group (>40years). Incidence of ocular trauma in adults can be decreased by proper use of certain safety devices like protective goggles or shield etc, during work. The visual outcome depends upon site and size of injury, extent of ocular damage which are the most important factor and the period between time of injury and institution of the treatment.