The incidence of children’s eye injuries in Tobruk: a prospective study.

Introduction: Ocular trauma constitutes a significant cause of acquired blindness in the pediatric population. Understanding the epidemiology of ocular trauma in children, particularly in comparison to other age groups, is vital for informing preventive measures and healthcare planning. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of ocular trauma cases seen at the Tobruk Medical Centre in Libya over the course of one year. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 2019, encompassing patients of all age groups who were presented with ocular trauma in both the Ophthalmology Department and the Emergency Department of Tobruk Medical Centre. Data pertaining to age, sex distribution, duration of presentation, mode of injury, type of injury, and final visual outcomes were analyzed. Results: Among the 201 patients included in the study, 76 were children, comprising 37.8% of the total cases. Of the pediatric cases, 68.5% were male, while 31.5% were female. Notably, a significant proportion of children (77.6%) suffered ocular injuries at home, with altercations accounting for 7.8%, school-related incidents at 6.5%, and car accidents and workplace accidents contributing 5.2% and 2.6% respectively. Approximately 29% of cases required hospital admission, with 22% of patients necessitating surgical interventions. Blunt trauma was the most frequent type of ocular injury, representing 72% of cases. Penetrating trauma with intraocular foreign bodies (IOFB) accounted for 6.5% of cases. The final visual outcomes were recorded for 16 patients. Alarming results showed that 8% experienced severe vision impairment, with a visual acuity of Hand Movement or worse. Additionally, 2.6% of the trauma cases resulted in blindness with no perception of light. Sever impairment of vision is statistically significant related to cases with open rupture globe (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study highlights the substantial vulnerability of children to ocular trauma and underscores the need for increased supervision and preventive measures, particularly in the home environment. Notably, open globe injuries can lead to permanent blindness. Preventive efforts should include the secure storage of sharp objects to safeguard against pediatric ocular trauma and its potentially devastating consequences.