To Evaluate Visual Outcome in Children Undergoing Surgery after Penetrating Anterior Segment Trauma.

Objective: To evaluate the visual outcome in children undergoing surgery after penetrating anterior segment ocular trauma. Methodology: This was a descriptive type cross sectional study conducted at Ophthalmology Department of Sheikh Zayed Medical College/Hospital; Rahim Yar Khan from January 2018 to June 2019. 96 cases of either gender with age range of 3 to 18 years with penetrating anterior segment injuries were included by using non probability consecutive sampling technique. An informed consent was taken from parents of all participants. Pre-operative visual acuity was checked and slit lamp bio-microscopy was done for wound assessment. Trauma was categorized into following types based on location of wound as seen on slit lamp examination; Type1: Isolated cornealinvolvement, Type2: Corneal involvement along with scleral involvement up to 3mm posterior to limbus and Type3: Isolated sclera involvement. The injury was repaired as soon as possible and was followed at 2 and then 4 weeks follow, final outcome was checked by visual acuity and was labeled as good or bad. Data was entered in structured proforma and was analyzed by using SPSS version 20.0 software. Results: In this study there were total 96 cases out of which were 51 (53.13%) males and 45 (46.88%) females with mean age of 9.23±3.79 years. The maximum cases had type II injury affecting 48 (50%) of cases. Good outcome was seen in 47 (48.96%) of cases after surgical intervention of which 26 (50.98%) were males as compared to 21 (46.67%) females. The outcome was better in age group 10-18 years, observed in 22 (55%) of cases. There was no significant difference in terms of type of injury, with highest number seen in type I where it was seen in 13 (54.17%) of cases in its respective group followed by type II where it was 50%. There were significant results seen in terms of type of injury where good outcome was seen in pencil injuries revealed in 20 (57.14%) cases as compared to needle or glass where it was seen in none of the cases with p= 0.04. Conclusion; Penetrating anterior segment injuries are common in Ophthalmic emergencies and good outcome is seen in almost half of the cases. There are significantly better results in pencil injuries as compared to needle or glass injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]