Are signs and symptoms associated with persistent corneal abrasions in children?
BACKGROUND
Corneal abrasions are common eye injuries in children. Most are treated with antibiotic drops or ointment, patching of the affected eye, and follow-up within 24 hours to confirm resolution by fluorescein examination.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if signs and symptoms at follow-up were associated with the presence of a persistent corneal abrasion or abnormal visual acuity.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
A children's hospital.


METHODS
Children who were aged 4 years or older with the diagnosis of corneal abrasion between May 1992 and December 1996 and who had a follow-up examination.


RESULTS
Seventy-seven patients (57% male) were enrolled (median age, 7 years). The respective sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of selective signs and symptoms for persistent abrasions were as follows: for pain, 53%, 93%, 80%, and 80%; for photophobia, 57%, 100%, 100%, and 80%; for redness, 100%, 46%, 44%, and 100%; for pain and redness, 40%, 96%, 80%, and 80%; and for at least 1 sign or symptom, 95%, 48%, 47%, and 95%. Twenty-six patients had persistent corneal abrasions at follow-up. Six of these 26 patients were symptom free at follow-up, and 15 patients had only redness as a persistent sign. Five patients had abnormal visual acuity, one of whom was asymptomatic. All 3 patients with complications were symptomatic.


CONCLUSIONS
Signs and symptoms are inconsistently associated with persistent corneal abrasions. Asymptomatic patients may have persistent corneal abrasions, suggesting the need for selective follow-ups.
Rittichier
K K
KK
Primary Children's Medical Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City , USA.
Roback
M G
MG
Bassett
K E
KE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014792:Visual Acuity