Clinical Outcomes of Ocular Chemical Injury: An Observational Study

A bstract Introduction: Chemical eye injuries account for a significant proportion of ocular traumas, ranging from 11.5% to 22.1% of all reported cases. In spite of the commonality of chemical ocular injuries, there is as yet a discernible lack of information on ocular injuries produced by chemical agents in Central India. Materials and Methods: The present study was a prospective observational study on patients presenting with a history of ocular chemical injury from 1 August 2021 to 31 July 2023. All the patients were subjected to thorough ophthalmological examination. Dua’s classification was used to grade chemical injury. The management depended upon the time of presentation and severity of ocular injury. Patients were examined at days 1, 7, 14, 28, and then biweekly until 3 months and monthly till 6 months. At each visit, visual acuity, reduction of pain, size of corneal epithelial defect, extent of corneal vascularization and opacity, and symblepharon formation were assessed. Result: A total of 79 eyes of 66 patients were included, of which 65.15% were males, and the age group of 20–40 years (37.88%) was most affected. The majority had alkali exposure, and 80.3% had unilateral injuries. The most frequent presentations were Grade 1 and Grade 2 (27.8%–24.1%, respectively). Medical treatment alone was sufficient in 100% of Grade 1 cases, and in higher grades, surgical procedures were needed. About 46.8% were treated with amniotic membrane grafting and 32.9% with medical management. Conclusion: Ocular chemical burn is an ophthalmic emergency, and early initiation of treatment can avoid long-term complications and improve outcomes.