Pediatric Ocular Trauma Caused by Blunt Weapons: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects in the Pediatric Ophthalmology Unit at the Teaching Hospital of Bouake

Introduction: Ocular trauma in children represents a significant cause of ocular morbidity in Africa. Identifying the causative agent is crucial, as it provides insight into the severity of the impact and helps understand the potential injuries sustained. The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of pediatric ocular trauma caused by sharp or bladed weapons. Methodology: This study included children aged 0 to 15 years who presented to the pediatric ophthalmology unit between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2024, with ocular trauma. Data were collected from medical records, outpatient registers, on-call logs and operative reports. Collected variables included sociodemographic, clinical, therapeutic data and sequelae. Results: The age group of 6 to 10 years was the most represented, accounting for 47.6% of cases. Males were predominant, with a sex ratio of 1.77. Most injuries occurred at home (47.6%). Knives were the most frequently identified causative agent, involved in 16.7% of cases. Corneoscleral laceration with iris prolapse was the most common anterior segment lesion, observed in 31% of patients. Traumatic cataract was the most frequent sequela, occurring in 14.3%. Conclusion: Pediatric ocular trauma caused by bladed weapons can be potentially severe and often occurs within the home environment. Sequelae following recovery are common and may significantly compromise visual and functional outcomes.