Clinical and demographic profile of paediatric ocular trauma in tertiary care centre

Background: Ocular injury constitutes one of the most common causes of preventable ocular morbidity and blindness accounting for around 8%-14% of all childhood ocular trauma. In children it can lead to multifactorial and psychological implications. Aims and objectives: To study the epidemiological and clinical profile of ocular trauma in paediatric patients and the association of epidemiological factors (age, sex, and locality) with the clinical pattern (mode, nature) of ocular trauma. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based, cross-sectional analytical study was performed at the Department of Ophthalmology, Pt. J. N. M. Medical College, Raipur, Chhattisgarh from April 2021 to October 2022. Patients of the age group 0-14 years, with ocular trauma were included in the study. Demographic profile like age, sex, locality and clinical parameters such as type of injury, mode of injury, laterality, and objects causing ocular injury were analysed and detailed ophthalmic examination was done. Results:437 children were examined out of which 120 had ocular trauma. Children aged 6–10years (51.6%) were most commonly affected, followed by children from 11 to 14 years (26.6%).  Males were affected (65%) more than females (35%) with a ratio of 1.85.  Children from rural area are affected more (58.3%) than urban (41.7%) locality.  Most patients had open globe injuries (n=46) followed by closed globe injuries (n=44) and adnexal injuries (n=30). The most common object causing injury was wooden object (n=16), followed by fall and sharp metal object related injuries (n=14). Conclusion:  Ocular injuries are mostly preventable. To prevent ocular morbidity or blindness, awareness of parents and children is essential throughhealth education, use of appropriate protective measures to decrease or prevent the incidence and severity of trauma.