Pattern of ocular trauma in Western region of Nepal

Dr Eliya Shrestha, Yashna Van Kinderen, Dr Klaver

Purpose: To determine the characteristics and visual outcome of ocular trauma in the Western Region of Nepal.

Methods: All cases of ocular trauma presenting in one year period to the Himalaya Eye Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic feature, type and cause of trauma, time lapse before presenting to hospital, management and result were noted.

Results: Eleven hundred eyes of 1069 patients (31 bilateral injuries) were included in this study. Males were predominantly affected (69.3%) than their counterparts. The average age of the patients presenting with trauma were 28.3 years. On reviewing the causes of trauma, blunt trauma was the commonest of all which accounted for 56.5% followed by sharp injury accounting for 16.7%. The commonest type of trauma was closed globe injury (73.3%). Visual outcome was poorer in open globe injury in compare to close globe. Out of total cases, only 52.9% presented to hospital within 24 hours. Over 7% of them presented as late as one week. Among these patients 74.8% of them had regained normal vision (6/18) and 8% of the total had become blind (<3/60) according to WHO criteria.

Conclusion: Males are more prone to sustain ocular trauma than the females. Open globe injury and late presentation are probably the worst prognostic factors for the visual outcome. There is a need of educating the community regarding the importance of seeking immediate medical care after ocular trauma in country like Nepal.