Pattern of ocular injury in Pediatric Population in western India

Aim: To analyze the pattern of ocular trauma, causative agents and to find the correlation between time of intervention & visual outcome in pediatric population referred to a tertiary eye care center in western India. Method and Results: Prospective observational study, in which pediatric patients having ocular trauma between April 2011 - April 2012 referred to our hospital were enrolled. These children underwent detailed ophthalmic examination and intervention as required. Demographic data, mechanism, cause of injury and visual outcome were recorded with details of anterior and posterior segment evaluation. Follow up period: up to 6 months. 217 children (218 eyes) were enrolled. Age ranged from 4months to 15 years (mean ± SD, 3.8±2.3 years; male: female ratio(2.08:1); mean time between injury to treatment(1day ± 2.12 hours).Out of all, trauma occurred at home (45.65%,n=99), school (31.15%,n=68) and Road Traffic Accidents (23.18%,n=50).Most common modes of injury-wooden-stick, RTA, pencils/pens, broken eye glasses, cricket-ball, and hand of adult and fire-crackers. Injuries were classified as open globe (41.93%), adnexal (31.33%) and closed globe (26.72%). Conclusion: Most patients presented with a delay of 24 hours during which substantial damage was done. Thus, emphasizing the need to educate parents and to improve rural health care system to provide better facilities and a better transport system to reduce the duration between injury & treatment.