Citation

Kadappu S, Silveira S. Clin. Exp. Ophthal. 2013; 41(5): 427-434.

Affiliation

The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/ceo.12034

PMID

23145496

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This paper reports on the aetiology and outcome of childhood open and closed globe eye injuries presenting to the Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia from January 2000 to December 2008. DESIGN: Hospital-based retrospective study PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and three cases of childhood eye injuries identified in a 9 year period, comprising of 81 open globe and 122 closed globe injuries. METHODS: Hospital records were examined for demographic data and injuries were classified into open globe and closed globe, based on the Ocular Trauma Classification. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parameters affecting the final visual outcome such as type of injury, zone of injury, initial visual acuity, wound length (only in open globe injuries) and lens injury were assessed. RESULTS: Most of the eye injuries resulted from the child poking itself or being poked accidentally (26%), with the home being the most common place of injury. A favourable visual outcome was noted with closed globe injuries as compared to open globe injuries (p<0.01). Parameters which indicated a poor visual outcome included globe ruptures, zone 3 injuries, poor initial visual acuity, wound length >10mm and lens trauma. Final visual acuity of 6/12 or better was observed in 68% of injured eyes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated improved visual outcomes when compared to previous studies. However many unsalvageable childhood eye injuries with little useful vision were evident, and most disconcerting is that the majority of childhood eye injuries in this study were preventable.

Language: en