Ocular Injuries and The Associated Clinical Patterns

Abstract

Objectives:  To determine the frequency of ocular injuries and associated clinical patterns and to determine the association between gender and causative agent.

Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, MTI-Hayatabad Medical complex in Peshawar from 16^th December 2022 to 16^th June 2023. We collected data from patients that presented with a history of trauma to the eye. Data collected included age, gender, laterality, occupation, agent of injury, place of injury, time since injury, and visual acuity. In those with open globe injuries data regarding zone of injury and ocular trauma score (OTS) was also collected. We also determined the frequency of open globe injuries among trauma patients presenting to our department.

Results: A total of 121 patients were recruited during the study period with their mean age as 28.85±13.28 years. The frequency of open globe injury was found to be four (3.3%). In patients with open globe injuries, the majority (50%) sustained Zone I injuries, while Zone II and Zone III injuries each accounted for 25% of cases. Although males constituted the majority of cases 75 (62%), no statistically significant association was found between gender and the type of causative agent (p = 0.96).

Conclusion: This study has identified the population at risk and provided an overview of the causes and clinical features found in cases of ocular trauma. Armed with this knowledge, targeted interventions can be implemented, including awareness campaigns, advocacy for workplace eye protection, and legislative reforms to enhance traffic safety and mitigate RTA-related ocular trauma. The insights gained from this study can guide both clinical practice and public health policies, ultimately reducing the incidence and improving outcomes for affected individuals