Abstract
Purpose:
To review the pattern, risk factors, and visual outcomes of pediatric chemical eye injuries.
Methods:
Retrospective study of pediatric patients with ocular burns over a 5-year period at a tertiary eye center.
Results:
Of the 134 children, the majority were male (63.3%). The mean age at time of injury was 8.95 ± 4.89 years. Severe ocular burns (grade 4 to 6) were seen in 70% of children, with bilateral involvement seen in 18% of the cases. The majority of these were caused by lime kept at home for use as an additive by an adult tobacco chewer. Surgical intervention was required in 85% of eyes. Overall visual outcome was poor, and median visual acuity at final follow-up (mean: 537 ± 354 days) was 3/60.
Conclusions:
Conclusion: Tobacco chewing in adults poses a major ocular health hazard for children resulting in significant ocular morbidity.
Keywords: 479 cornea: clinical science •
462 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications