Clinicoepidemiological Study of Penetrating Ocular Injuries and Factors Affecting Visual Outcome

• Nitin Kushwaha,*  
• Vivek Som,  
• Aditi Dubey,  
• Pooja Maravi,  
• Pankaj Kumar Sharma

Abstract

Background Ocular trauma is an important cause of visual impairment. Blindness among young adults due to ocular trauma has a huge socioeconomic cost and impact on the lives of such patients and their families. Thus we evaluate the epidemiology and etiological factors and the factors affecting the outcome in penetrating eye injuries. Methods This one-year descriptive observational study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology and Diabetic Clinic, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, involving 50 patients. The Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) was used to estimate final visual acuity. The epidemiological, etiological factors and risk factors were analyzed using the chi-square test with a significance level of 5%. Results Among the 50 patients, Majority of the participants in this study were found to be males by gender (78%). 50% of the study population was less than 30 years of age, Majority (26%) of the study participants in this study belonged to the age-group of 10-19 years. Mean age of the patients was found to be 30.9 ± 19.7 years. Among notable finding emerged, we found age of the study participants and zone of injury to be the factors which were significantly associated with the visual outcome of the patients whereas gender, mechanism of injury of the ocular trauma and the time elapsed between injury and primary repair were the factors which were significantly associated with the final structural outcome. Conclusions Regular campaigns should be conducted to raise awareness about the significance of using protective eye gear. A nationwide online database for ocular injuries should be established. Legislation should be implemented to hold employers accountable for providing protective equipment to their employees. Additionally, the NPCB should incorporate provisions for the physical, mental, social, and vocational rehabilitation of patients affected by ocular trauma, enabling them to lead a dignified and productive life in society.

Keywords

Eye injuries/ trauma, ocular injuries, Visual outcome, Open globe injury