An Experience With Terrorism Related Eye Injuries in Pakistan Armed Forces

1. Brigadier Prof. Mazhar Ishaq¹
2. Major Dr. Muhammad Khizar Niazi¹
3. Major Dr. Zamir Iqbal¹

¹Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Purpose: To analyze the various types of ocular injuries encountered during the ongoing military operation on war against terror in Pakistan along with the treatment and final outcome using the BETTS method.

Methods: A retrospective review of 62 eyes of 49 patients who presented with open-globe injuries between January 2007 and July 2010 was done. Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) was calculated in 62 eyes at the time of initial examination. Presenting and final visual acuity were grouped similar to the OTS study group. More than 60% of cases presented with acuity of HM or less. Surgical intervention was carried out in almost all cases. Similarity of final visual acuities by groups was compared with those in the OTS study.

Results: When comparing the distribution of final visual acuity in all OTS categories, no statistically significant difference was found (p = 0.28) between the results of our study and the OTS study group. NLP ratio in first category and 20/40 ratio in last category were statistically higher than in our study (p = 0.009). In category of LP/HM ratio (p < 0.0001) was statistically higher than in the OTS study. The likelihood of the final visual acuities (NLP, LP/HM, 1/200 to 19/200, 20/200 to 20/50, and > or = 20/40) in the other OTS categories in this group was similar to those in the OTS study group.

Conclusion: Open-globe injuries were encountered in majority of cases and cases with timely surgical intervention gave better results. Emphasis should be given on the use of protective eye wear on routine basis by the combat troops.