RESUMO
Objective: To analyze the demography, characteristics, visual and anatomical outcomes of combat ocular injuries sustained by Pakistani troops
Study Design: Case series
Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology [AFIO] Rawalpindi, from January 2010 to June 2014
Material and Methods: Data of 156 eyes of 120 war wounded patients treated at AFIO from 2010 - 2014 was retrieved and analysed. Record of each patient was evaluated and demographic data, mode and type of injury, initial and final visual acuity [VA], associated globe injuries, concomitant non-ocular injuries, type of surgical procedures and complications were endorsed on a pre-devised proforma. Injuries were classified according to the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology [BETT]. Statistical analysis of the data was done using SPSS version 13.0
Results: Mean age of study population was 28.33 +/- 7.70 years. Improvised explosive device [IED] blast was the most common mode injury occurring in 51 [42.5%] of casualties. Forty eight [30.76%] eyes sustained closed globe injuries while 108 [69.23%] eyes had open globe injuries. Thirty one [19.87%] eyes were initially managed conservatively, while primary corneo scleral repairs were done in 77 [49.35%] eyes. Overall, final visual outcome was significantly better in closed globe injuries as compared to open globe injuries with 26 [54.16%] eyes with closed globe injury achieving final VA of >/= 6/12 as compared to 10 [9.25%] eyes with open globe injuries
Conclusion: Closed globe combat ocular injuries have better visual outcome as compared to open globe injuries