Open globe injuries in children: factors predictive of a poor final visual acuity

Abstract

Aims Eye injuries are the leading cause of monocular blindness in children and are challenging to manage. However, limited follow-up studies currently exist. We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of open globe injuries presenting to a major UK centre and discuss factors affecting long-term prognosis.

Determination of visual prognosis in children with open globe injuries

“…3,7,11 In this case series, the boy-girl ratio was 5.5 : 1. Our average age of onset was 11.57 years.…”

“…1,7,8,11,13 Wounds due to sharp injuries are more often located in the cornea, whereas those due to blunt Eye and projectile injuries are usually long or irregular and with a greater incidence of intraocular foreign bodies, which would affect the visual prognosis. The presenting VA is a strong prognostic indicator of visual outcome not only in adults but also in children with OGI.…”

“…3,6,9 Amblyopia is also a main reason of the poor visual outcome in young children with OGI. 7 The visual prognosis should not depend merely on the age of onset, but it should be combined with a comprehensive analysis. For young children, attention should be paid to their follow-up to prevent or correct the factors that may lead to amblyopia or strabismus.…”

“…10 Mechanisms were classified as blunt, sharp, or missile. 7 The location and extent of the injury were defined according to the Ocular Trauma Classification Group: zone I, isolated to the cornea or corneoscleral limbus; zone II, limited to the anterior 5 mm of sclera; zone III, fullthickness injury 45 mm beyond the limbus. 10 Patients who were followed up for at least 3 months were included.…”

“…5 It has been shown that visual prognostic factors of OGI in adults include presenting visual acuity (VA), types of trauma, location and length of wounds, lens damage, vitreous hemorrhage (VH), and types of intraocular foreign bodies, and so on. 6,7 Relatively little is known regarding the visual prognostic factors in children. 8,9 Despite the high incidence and probability of causing blindness, it is a preventable and controllable disease.…”