Aspects épidémiologiques cliniques et thérapeutiques des traumatismes oculaires de l’enfant dans un service d’urgences ophtalmologiques en Île-de-France

Prevalence, Characteristics, and Management of Pediatric Ocular Trauma in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Analysis

PURPOSE

Ocular trauma is a major cause of visual impairment; however, little is known about its burden in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the epidemiological characteristics of ocular trauma in pediatric patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with eye injuries between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic and injury characteristics were collected, and ocular trauma injuries were classified according to the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology.

RESULTS

A total of 855 injured patients were included in the study, of whom 525 (61.4%) were boys. Patient age ranged from one month to 18 years. Most ocular injuries occurred in children aged 5-9 years. The injuries were more prevalent in boys than in girls. Closed globe injuries accounted for 70% of cases, open globe injuries for 21%, and other injuries for 9%. Most ocular injuries occurred at home (n = 87, 42%), followed by school (n = 61, 30%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results may inform the implementation and targeting of interventions to reduce or prevent eye injuries in children. Further, they highlight the importance of well-planned prevention programs to prevent eye injuries from occurring in children's daily lives.

Endophthalmitis in children with open eye injury: epidemiology, risk factors, treatment

The article provides an overview of endophthalmitis cases in children with open eye injury — prevalence, causes and treatment results in Great Britain, USA, China, India, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and other countries with different healthcare facilities, lifestyle and traditions.

Ocular emergencies presenting to an emergency department in Central Spain from 2013 to 2018

PURPOSE

To determine the frequency of ocular conditions among patients presenting to an emergency department at a tertiary hospital in Spain.

METHODS

A retrospective, longitudinal analysis of all patients who presented to the ocular emergency department of Rio Hortega University Hospital, Valladolid, Spain, from 2013 to 2018 was performed. Data on demographics, ophthalmic examination, and diagnosis were collected. Diseases were classified according the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes.

RESULTS

We had 20,822 patients, of which 10,878 (52.2%) were women. The main age categories were 45-65 years (7391 patients; 35.5%) and 15-45 years (5979 patients; 28.2%). Most of the patients (17,793; 85.5%) were discharged on the same day. Conjunctival pathology was the most common cause of presentation (4110; 19.7%), followed by corneal disorders (4025; 19.3%). Acute conjunctivitis was diagnosed in 2920 (14%) and ocular trauma in 2125 (10.2%) patients. Non-emergency ophthalmic conditions were diagnosed in 1581 (7.6%) patients. Retinal detachments and peripheral holes occurred more commonly in patients aged 45-65 years (p <0.001). Corneal or conjunctival disorders and lid inflammation (p <0.001) were more frequent in women, whereas men had higher incidences of trauma (p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Most of our patients presented ocular surface diseases. Men were more vulnerable to trauma, mainly superficial foreign body. The majority of the patients presented with uncomplicated ocular conditions that would be managed more cost-effectively by primary health care providers. We advocate greater education of primary care physicians and patients in managing simple ocular emergencies to reduce the cases presenting to an emergency department of a tertiary hospital.

Epidemiology and aetiology of childhood ocular trauma in the Republic of Suriname

PURPOSE

To describe the epidemiology and aetiology of ocular trauma in school-aged children who previously visited the Suriname Eye Centre (SEC) of the Academic Hospital Paramaribo.

METHODS

In a hospital-based retrospective study, all cases of children who were school aged (8-15 years) at the time of the survey and previously underwent evaluation and/or treatment at the SEC because of ocular trauma were analysed. Demographic and ophthalmologic data were taken out of patient records; eye injuries were classified using the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology classification system. Main outcome measures were type of injury, mechanism/cause of injury, final visual acuity (VA), hospitalization, patient delay and patient compliance.

RESULTS

Five hundred and thirty-eight records were analysed which included 35 open globe injuries (OGI) (7%), 458 closed globe injuries (85%), five orbital fractures (1%) and 40 eyelid injuries (7%). The most frequent causes of trauma represented body parts (18%) and sticks or branches (13%) and resulted from poking (20%) or punching (13%) the eye. Final VA < 6/60 was reported in 58% of registered OGI. Where living in rural areas (p = 0.007), OGI (p < 0.0001) and poor compliance to scheduled check-ups (p < 0.0001) were statistically significantly related to an unfavourable outcome, patient delay was not. Patients having OGI were more often hospitalized than children with other injuries (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

This is the first study providing data on childhood ocular trauma in Suriname. As the majority of childhood injuries were avoidable, new policies should aim at developing effective, targeted preventive strategies to promote awareness, parental supervision, immediate action and compliance.