To study the epidemiological and clinical profile of ocular trauma at a tertiary health-care facility

• Main Authors: Ekta Syal, Munish Dhawan, Surinder Pal Singh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2018-01-01
• Series: Delta Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: closed globe; ocular trauma; prevention; workplace
• Online Access: http://www.djo.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1110-9173;year=2018;volume=19;issue=4;spage=259;epage=267;aulast=Syal
• ISSN: 1110-9173; 2090-4835

Aim To study the profile of ocular trauma and to find out its risk factors. Settings and design This is a prospective hospital-based study that included patients of ocular trauma presenting to the Department of Ophthalmology and Emergency, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, India during the period from May 2015 to November 2016. Patients and methods The study included patients with recent history of trauma (<7 days). Complete demographic data, history of trauma, and detailed ocular examination were done. Statistical analysis used the statistical package for the social sciences software. Results A total of 200 patients were studied. Men had twofold higher rates of injury than women. The predominant age group was between 21 and 30 years with a mean age of 29.87±12.46 years. Daily laborers were most frequently involved in trauma (n=64; 32%). The workplace trauma was the most common mode accounting for 27.5% of the cases and was most commonly sustained by laborers (50.90%). Metallic objects were responsible in 28.5% followed by vegetative matter (11%). Mechanical trauma was present in 94.5% while 5.5% suffered from chemical trauma. In 94.5% cases with mechanical trauma, 60.5% sustained closed globe injuries and 26% had open globe injuries. Contusions and penetrating injuries were the most common in closed and open globe injuries, respectively. Corneoscleral perforation was the most common clinical presentation in 50 patients. Forty-two percent of patients required only medical management and 58% required surgical management with the most frequent being corneal/scleral perforation repair. Conclusion Workplace-related eye injuries were noted in a significant number of cases. Strict implementation of health education and preventive strategies especially at the workplace will help to decrease the occurrence of ocular injuries.