ABSTRACT
To assess the etiological factors and circumstances associated with the occurrence of eye injuries in children attending a tertiary care pediatric ophthalmology department. This study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Civil Hospital, Karachi from August 2007 to July 2009. Personal information, clinical findings and management plan was recorded on a prescribed performa. Variables studied included: age, sex, date of injury, place of injury, involved eye, circumstance and mechanism of injury, initial visual acuity and immediate management. A total of 462 patients under the age of 16 years presented with ocular trauma. There were 297[64.3%] males and 165[35.7%] females. Mean age was 7.03 +/- 3.61 years. Most cases 198 [42.9%] belonged to the schoolgoing age group [6 to 11years]. The injuries occurred most frequently at home [215 patients, 46.5%].Blunt trauma occurred in 228[49.4%] cases followed by penetrating in 162[35.1%] cases. Injuries restricted to the eyelid occurred in 61 [13.2%] accidents, closed globe injury occurred in 338 [73.1%] and open globe injury in 63 [13.7%] accidents. Visual acuity was better than 6/12 in 245 [53.0%] children. Two hundred and fifteen children [46.5%] were prescribed only general measures like pressure patching, warm or cold compresses antibiotics or lubricant eye drops. Surgical management was required in 121[26.2%] patients. This study has shown frequencies of different type of ocular trauma which can be minimized by taking preventive measures as adopted in developed countries