Traumatic Eye Injuries in Children OPHTHALMIC EDUCATION (13) [Archives:2000/40/Health]

Eye injuries in children are a significant cause of unilateral blindness in Yemen. Unfortunately we dont know the extent of these injuries because of lack of information allover Yemen. An internal audit performed by the authors in the eye department in Al-Thawra hospital covering one calendar year (1999) showed the following: –
14.3% of all eye surgical procedures performed were related to eye injuries.
The eye was ruptured and needed repair in 79.7% of these procedures.
66.2% were children under the age of 16 years.
From the above numbers we realize the burden of eye injuries in Yemen and it shows that almost two thirds of these patients are children under 16 years.
Ocular trauma is a frequent reason for emergency department visits at pediatric hospitals. The extent of trauma may range from simple superficial injuries to devastating penetrating injuries of the eyelids, lacrimal system, and globe.
Males usually outnumber the females. The frequency of injuries among boys increased markedly from the age of 8. The majority of injuries occurred in children between the ages of 11 to 15 years.
Ocular injuries in children above 10 years of age are most commonly play and sport-related, whereas injuries at home accounts for the majority of trauma in children less than 10 years. Stones and sharp objects are the most common and most of the sharp objects are household instruments. In Yemen missile injuries from children playing with BB guns or sharp projectiles are common cause for lacerated eyes.
Eye findings are very common in physically abused children. It is very rare that these findings necessitate surgery; however, ocular manifestations of child are important for the eye doctor to maintain a high index of suspicion for child abuse in the traumatized eye.
REMEMBER
Trauma to the eye is common in our community.
Most of these patients are in the pediatric age group.
The numbers above dont include the cases of blunt injuries that are referred to the eye clinic.
We need to increase the awareness about safety among the people in our community and children in their schools to decrease the number of this avoidable problem.
Routine eye exam by an eye specialist is very important.
It is your sight and your eyes need every care they deserve.
Mahfouth A Bamashmus FRCSEd, FRCOphth
Ibn-Al-Haitham Clinic
University of Science & Technology, Sanaa
Ahmed Al-Shabouti, MD
Al-Thawra Hospital, Sanaa

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