Epidemiology of ocular trauma in children requiring hospital admission: a 16–year retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND To study the epidemiology of ocular trauma requiring hospital admission in children under 18 years in age. METHODS This retrospective cohort study included pediatric patients with ocular injuries at the Ophthalmology Department of the Clinical Hospital Centre, Split, Croatia, from 2000 to 2015, classified according to the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology. RESULTS There were 353 children hospitalized, 82% of boys (mean age 11 years) and 18% of girls (mean age 10 years). The majority of traumas occurred in the outside environment (70%, n = 249), followed by occurrences at home (17%, n = 60), and at a school/nursery (8%, n = 28). Final visual acuity was 6/18 or better in 286 (96%) patients with closed globe injury and in 26 (49%) patients with open globe injury. Severe impairment of vision was found in 12 (4.4%) patients in the closed globe injury group and 26 (49%) patients in the open globe injury group. A statistically significant difference was found between final visual acuity and initial visual acuity in all patients (χ2 = 12.8; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The majority of pediatric eye injuries are happening in the outside environment and are preventable. Implementation of well-established safety precautions would greatly reduce this source of visual disability in children.