Ocular trauma in school going children- An analytical study

Abstract

Introduction: Ocular trauma is one of the major causes of preventable childhood blindness in the world. Ocular injuries lead to visual disability, cosmetic problems and psychosomatic abnormalities.\nAim and Objective: To study the prevalence and characteristics of ocular trauma in school going children.\nMaterials and Methods: This hospital based analytical study included the school going children presented with ocular trauma at the tertiary eye care hospital. A study proforma was used to obtain various socio-demographic information, detailed history and relevant findings on ocular examination. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed.\nResults: One hundred and twenty patients with ocular injuries in the age group five to eighteen (5-18) were examined. Maximum of Sixty three (63) cases were recorded in the age group of Eleven to Fifteen (11-15) years. 81.6% of the cases were boys, 35 patients had accidental fall injury, 17 patients had road traffic accidents, and 6 cases had posterior segment involvement. One hundred and six of the patients had closed globe injury; Twenty seven (27) patients had a visual acuity of less than 6/60 at the time of presentation. Twenty one (21) patients had a final visual outcome of 6/60 or less at the end of one year.\n\nKeywords: Accidental fall, Ocular Trauma, Road traffic accidents, School going children, Visual disability.