A CLINICAL STUDY OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS RELATED OCULAR INJURIES IN A RURAL TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Dr. Debabrata Das, Dr. Somedeb Gupta

Abstract


In this study we evaluated the epidemiology and pattern of ocular injury among road traffic accident cases. This cross sectional prospective study was conducted in a rural tertiary care hospital in eastern India. The data collected were demographic variables, mode of travel while sustaining injury, presenting complaints, time interval between injury and reporting to the hospital, whether injured person was driver, rider or pedestrian. The detailed ophthalmic examinations   with type and extend of ocular injury was documented. The best corrected visual acuity at the end of 6 months graded as good (visual acuity >6/18), fair (6/18-6/60) or poor (<6/60). 

In this study 346 patients and their 373 eyes were included. The right eye injury was noted in 197(52.8%) cases, left eye injury in 153(41.0 %) cases and 23(6.2%) patients had bilateral ocular injuries. There were 281(81.2%) male and 65(18.8%) female cases. The commonest affected age group was 21-40 years with 178(51.4%) cases.  Most of the affected victims were unemployed youth 112(32.4%). Most common time interval between injury and reporting to our hospital was 12-24 hrs of 156(45.1%) cases. The subconjunctival hemorrhage in 114(30.6%) eyes was the commonest type of ocular injury detected in our study. The conservative treatment was done in 281(75.3%) eyes while 92(24.7%) eyes required surgical repair. The final good visual acuity was documented in 314 (84.2%) eyes and only18 (4.8%) eyes had poor visual acuity.

 This study enhances our understanding of ocular injuries in road traffic accidents. Awareness about road safety, safe road infrastructure and enforcement of safety laws can minimize ocular injuries and its consequences on vision.


Keywords


road traffic accident, ocular injuries, blindness

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References


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