Eye injuries in children: the current picture
- aDepartment of Ophthalmology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, bUniversity of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD
- Dr MacEwan.
- Accepted 15 March 1999
Abstract
AIMS To investigate the current causes and outcomes of paediatric ocular trauma.
METHODS A prospective observational study of all children admitted to hospital with ocular trauma in Scotland over a 1 year period.
RESULTS The commonest mechanism of injury was blunt trauma, accounting for 65% of the total. 60% of the patients were admitted with a hyphaema. Injuries necessitating admission occurred most frequently at home (51%). Sporting activities were the commonest cause of injury in the 5–14 age group. There were no injuries caused by road traffic accidents or fireworks. Patients were admitted to hospital for a mean of 4.2 days (range 1–25 days). One (1%) child had an acuity in the “visually impaired” range (6/18–6/60) and one (1%) was “blind” (6/60) in the affected eye. No child was bilaterally blinded by injury and none required blind or partial sight registration.
CONCLUSION This study has shown that the incidence of eye injuries affecting children has fallen. The outcome of ocular trauma has improved significantly, and for the first time paediatric injuries appear to have a better prognosis than injuries affecting adults.
