RESUMEN
Purpose: To describe the outcomes of eyes with calcium carbide (CaC2)?related thermo?chemical injury. Methods: This study included 28 eyes of 23 patients who presented with calcium carbide?related ocular burns. Only patients with more than three months of follow?up were included. Group A included 16 eyes with Dua抯 Grade I朓II burns, while Group B included 12 eyes with Grade IV朧I burns. Electronic medical records were reviewed to provide data on the etiology of burn, presenting clinical signs and visual acuity, sequelae, and surgical interventions performed, both in the acute and chronic phases. Results: The overall mean age was 28.48 � 11.8 years. Fifteen patients were injured while using carbide to create an explosion to scare away animals on farms. The median presenting BCVA (best?corrected visual acuity) in Group A (20/160) was significantly better than in Group B [(20/2000) (P = 0.002)]. Five eyes in Group A and one eye in Group B underwent medical management. There was no difference in the duration of follow?up for both groups (P = 0.24). The median final BCVA in Group A (20/32) was significantly better than in Group B [(20/200) (P = 0.02)]. Two eyes in Group A and nine eyes in Group B developed LSCD. Two eyes in Group B were phthisical at the last visit. Conclusion: Calcium carbide?related ocular injuries can result in significant visual morbidity in young adults. Early presentation and management may improve outcomes. Prevention of these injuries by increasing awareness and increasing advocacy efforts is necessary.
RESUMEN
Purpose: To study and compare the demographic and clinical profile of acute ocular burns (AOB) in children and adults. Methods: This retrospective case series included 271 children (338 eyes) and 1300 adults (1809 eyes) who presented to two tertiary eye care centers within one month of sustaining AOB. Data regarding demographics, causative agents, severity of injury, visual acuity (VA), and treatment were collected and analyzed. Results: Males were more commonly affected particularly among adults (81% versus 64%, P < 0.00001). Among children, 79% sustained domestic injuries, whereas 59% of adults had work?place injuries (P < 0.0001). Most cases were due to alkali (38%) and acids (22%). Edible lime (chuna, 32%), superglue (14%), and firecrackers (12%) in children, and chuna (7%), insecticides, lye, superglue (6% each), toilet cleaner (4%) and battery acid (3%) in adults, were the main causative agents. The percentage of cases with Dua grade IV?VI was greater in children (16% versus 9%; P = 0.0001). Amniotic membrane grafting and/or tarsorrhaphy were needed in 36% and 14% of affected eyes in children and adults, respectively (P < 0.00001). The median presenting VA was logMAR 0.5 in children and logMAR 0.3 in adults (P = 0.0001), which improved significantly with treatment in both groups (P < 0.0001), but the final VA in eyes with Dua grade IV?VI burns was poorer in children (logMAR 1.3 versus logMAR 0.8, P = 0.04). Conclusion: The findings clearly delineate the at?risk groups, causative agents, clinical severity, and treatment outcomes of AOB. Increased awareness and data?driven targeted preventive strategies are needed to reduce the avoidable ocular morbidity in AOB