Epidemiology of ocular trauma

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of ocular trauma seen in a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: The ophthalmology and emergency department in a tertiary care hospital were the sites of this prospective cross-sectional research that ran from July to December of 2023. Trauma was categorized using the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System after a thorough history of trauma and ocular examination. Age, sex, injury mechanism, injury type, and treatment were the variables used for statistical analysis. Results: Among the 477 patients, the age group of 21–30 years old constituted 30% of the patient population. Three hundred and thirty-six patients were male (70%) and the rest were female. Right eye (49%) and left eye (50%) were equally involved and the remaining 1% was with both eyes. Most commonly closed globe injuries (88%) were seen among which lid laceration (14%), ecchymosis (12%), and subconjunctival hemorrhage (7%) were common. Mechanism of injury commonly causing ocular trauma was road traffic accidents (33%). Most of the patients were non-surgical involving lid suturing (21%) and medical management. About 17% of cases needed surgical repair. Conclusion: This study focuses on epidemiology of ocular trauma. Accidents using motor vehicles were the leading cause of eye injuries. Increasing general awareness and preventing delay in treatment can overcome visual morbidity and thus reduce incidence of permanent visual disability.