Trend Of Ocular Chemical Injuries In A Tertiary Care Institute

Chemical injury to the eye accounts for a significant portion of ocular trauma. Ocular chemical injuries constitute 7.7% to 18% of all ocular traumas. Chemical exposure to eye results in trauma ranging from mild irritation to severe damage to the ocular surface and anterior segment which can ultimately lead to permanent vision loss. Alkali injuries occur more frequent and severe than acid injuries. The sequels of chemical injury may have significant detrimental visual and psychological effects on the affected individual. Proper management in the acute setting as well as follow up is crucial in limiting adverse effects of ocular tissue damage secondary to the chemical injury.

Opthalmology Department of Tertiary Care Institute

A retrospective study of patients with presented with ocular chemical injuries was done in tertiary care hospital. Case records of patients who presented with ocular chemical injuries to the institute were reviewed over a 1 year period. The data was compiled in Microsoft Excel and statistical evaluation of data done.

The study included 77 eyes of 58 patients who presented with ocular chemical injuries. Out of the 58 patients, 13(22.41%) were female patients while 45 were male(77.58%). The average age of the patients was 31.58 ± 14.32 years, ranging from 5 to 62 years of age. Among the 58 patients, 18 patients (32.75%) suffered bilateral injuries. Alkalis contributed for injuries in 18 patients (31.03%) and acids in 40 patients (68.96%). Out of 58 patients, 53 patients (91.37%) sustained accidental injury while 5 patients (8.63%) sustained non-accidental (deliberate) injury. Out of 58 patients, 30 (51.72%) of them suffered injuries in workplace while the rest 28 patients (48.28%) sustained injuries at their home.

Early presentation with good presenting visual acuity carries a good structural and visual prognosis and lesser complications. Despite advances in medical and surgical treatment modalities, the consequences of severe ocular chemical burns can have profound psychological, economic, and social consequences for the patient. For this reason, for patients presenting with chemical ocular injuries, whether they occur in the workplace or at home, early recognition and prompt treatment by the treating physician remain the standards for maximal preservation of ocular tissue and provide hope for preservation of vision.