Clinical Picture of the Pediatric Ocular Trauma

ABSTRACT

A prospective observational study was conducted of all children with ocular trauma who visited Dongguk University Pohang Hospital from January 1999 to December 1999. Current clinical features were evaluated and demographic and etiologic factors were determined. There were 56 patients, representing 15.4%of all ocular trauma patients. Among them, 42 children(75.0%)were boys, and 14(25.0%)were girls. Accidents at home were the commonest cause of injury in 0~5 years of age group, sporting activity in 6~10 age group, and accidents at school and other places in 11~15 age group. The types of injury were categorized into five groups. Many patients sustained more than one type of injury;therefore the total number of injuries(94 cases)is greater than the number of patients. Extraocular(33.0%)and nonperforating anterior globe injuries(47. 9%)occurred most commonly, whereas perforating globe injury occurred in only one case. In comparison with previous reports, incidence of pediatric ocular trauma and especially incidence of perforating ocular injury decreased. Even though all pediatric ocular trauma is not preventable, supervision for preventable causes by parents and teachers is needed.