Acute ophthalmological problems among patients attending Benha University Hospital

ABSTRACT

Two hundred and sixty four patients having acute ophthalmological problems who attended outpatient clinic of Ophthalmology Department or emergency room in Benha University Hospital during the last three months of the year 1994 were studied. Acute ocular inflammations, ocular trauma and miscellaneous causes represented 36.7%, 36% and 27.3% of cases respectively. Acute conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions and acute allergic conjunctivitis were the commonest in the previous three categories [40.2%. 35.8% and 48.6% respectively]. Acute ocular inflammations were common in preschool children [76.7%], rural residents [42.5%] and non-educated patients [42.0%]. Ocular trauma affected males more than females with a ratio of [1.6 1]. It occurred mainly in childhood [48.4%] and in manual and skilled workers [48.6%]. Blunt trauma was the commonest cause of ocular trauma in childhood [52.2%] while foreign bodies were the commonest in adults [42.9%]. Self referral accounted for 80.7% of cases while referral by private or general health services accounted for the remainder [11.7% and 7.6% respectively]. Among the studied cases, 73.8% attended the out-patient clinic and 26.2% attended the emergency room. Most of acute ocular Inflammations [81.5%] received out-patient medical treatment, while cases of ocular trauma were mainly surgically managed either in outpatient [45.3%] or inpatient [28.4%]. Miscellaneous cases were either medically treated in outpatient [63.9%] or were admitted to hospital for surgical or medical management [29.2% and 6.9% respectively]. Residents managed most cases of acute inflammations and ocular trauma alone [87.6% and 85.2% respectively], while staff interfered more in management of miscellaneous cases [31.9%].Preventive measures for ocular infection and trauma are recommended. Supply of needed equipments and continuous training of residents is essential to maintain effective services