Pattern and visual outcome of eye injuries in children at Abakaliki, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Most studies on ocular injuries have been conducted in urban areas to the neglect of other areas.


OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the pattern and visual outcome following eye injuries in children at Abakaliki, a largely agricultural communityy in Southern Eastern Nigeria


METHODS
A retrospective study of all the children aged 0-15 years, who had eye injuries and presented to the Federal Medical Center, Abakaliki, Nigeria, between May 2004 and June 2006. Their medical case records were retrieved and extracted data for analysis included age, sex, type and cause of eye injury and duration prior to presentation.


RESULTS
Of the 119 medical records of patients (adults and children) with eye injuries within the study period, 34 (28.6%) patients were those of children aged 0-15 years. There were 24 (70.6%) males and 10 (29.4%) females, giving a male to female ratio of 2.4:1.0. Blunt ocular injury constituted 27 (79.4%) cases whereas penetrating injury were 5 (14.7%) cases. Sharp or pointed objects accounted for 14 (41.2%) cases of agents of injuries, sticks being the commonest. While the most common place of trauma was at home 17 (50%) cases, followed by trauma at schools 9 (26.5%) cases, the commonest activity at occurrence of injuries was playing 13 (38.2%) cases. Only three (8.8%) cases presented to the hospital within 24 hours. Majority, 31 (91.2%) cases presented late. Visual prognosis was poorer in penetrating injuries than in mild blunt injuries. Final visual acuity (VA) could not be determined in 11 (32.4%) patients because they were either under age or defaulted from follow up. Of the remaining 23 (67.6%) patients, 12 (35.3%) had a final VA better than 6/18, 1 (2.9%) had VA in the range of 6/18-6/60, 6 (17.6%) had VA of < 6/60 while 4 (11.8%) had NPL. 8 (23.5%) patients needed hospital admission.


CONCLUSIONS
Blunt eye injury is the commonest type of injury in rural or agricultural Abakaliki, South-Eastern Nigeria. An increase in parental and care giver awareness and education is emphasized.
Onyekonwu
G C
GC
Department of Ophthalmology, Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Chuka-Okosat
C M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014792:Visual Acuity