ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Open globe injuries are a major cause of permanent visual impairment and blindness. OBJECTIVES: In this retrospective study, we identify clinical characteristics and outcome of a series of open globe injuries. METHODS: Operating department records were reviewed to identify all patients who had undergone repair of an open globe injury from January 2006 to November 2013 at the department of ophtalmology in the university hospital of Nabeul in Tunisia. Case notes were examined to determine demographic data, mechanisms and location of injury. The Snellen visual acuity on presentation, initial clinical signs and the final visual acuity were, also, recorded. RESULTS: In total, 100 cases of open globe injury were identified. The mean age of the patients was 31.9 years. Eighty-two per cent (82%) of patients were male. Domestic accidents, assaults and accidents in the work place were the main etiologies of open globe injuries, representing respectively 30, 29 and 12% of cases. Twenty eight (28) patients had globe ruptures and 72 patients sustained globe lacerations. The injury was corneal in 60 cases, corneoscleral in 15 cases and scleral in 25 cases. An intraocular foreign body has been identified in 4 cases. The main complications were corneal opacity (43%) and posterior synechiae (28.6%). Final visual acuity of 5/10 or better was achieved in 24% of cases. It was ≤1/10 in 12 % of cases. CONCLUSION: Open globe injury is a serious accident that can cause significant functional impairment. Only the application of preventive measures can reduce the incidence of these accidents.
