Hyphaema due to blunt trauma

ABSTRACT

To study the causes, clinical presentation, complications and visual outcome of hyphaema following closed globe injury. Design: Prospective study. Place and Duration of Study The study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from May, 1996 to June 1997. Patients and All cases of hyphaema, due to closed globe injury, were included and history of patients was recorded on a comprehensive proforma designed for this purpose. All cases were admitted for at least 5 days. Ocular examination included checking visual acuity [VA], intraocular pressure [IOP], slit lamp and fundus examination. Patients were treated accordingly and followed up for 90 days. Thirty-six eyes of 36 patients with hyphaema were included in our study. Out of this, 88.89% were males and 11.11% females while 86% were 20 years of age or below. Almost 91.66% presented with primary hyphaema, 44.44% received trauma with stone and 27.77% with tennis ball while playing cricket. Trauma during playing was noted in 66.66% of cases. Almost 62% of cases were having visual acuity in the range of CF to perception of light with good projection. IOP was raised initially in 41.66% cases. Only 33.33% needed surgical intervention. Secondary glaucoma was present in 13.88% and 5.55% had corneal blood staining. Majority of patients [75%] improved to VA range of 6/6 to 6/12 and 19% patients in our study ended up with legal blindness in the affected eyes. Traumatic hyphaema is more frequently found among children and young male. Angle recession, traumatic cataract and maculopathy were common co-morbidities. Secondary glaucoma and corneal staining were the main complications. Nearly 1/5th of patients ended up with legal blindness in the affected eyes