Ocular injuries in blast victims.

Objective: To study the type and severity of ocular injuries in blast victims.

Methods: It was a descriptive case series. The study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Iqbal Eye Clinic Peshawar from March 2010 to May 2011. Detailed history was taken and complete ocular examination was done. B-scan was done to know about any posterior segment pathology (when required). Digital X-ray orbit and/or computed tomography were done to rule out intraocular foreign body. The treatment and follow up varied according to the type and extent of eye injury.

Results: Total number of patients were 79, 78 (98.73%) males and 1 (1.26%) female. Mean age of patients was 23.43 +/- 10.67 years. Ocular injury was unilateral in 50 (63.29%) and bilateral in 29 (36.70%) patients. Forty-one (37.96%) eyes had closed globe injury and 67 (62.03%) had open globe injury. The most common type of injury was corneal/scleral perforation (48.14%) followed by vitreous haemorrhage (38.88%) and traumatic cataract (30.55%). The most commonly performed surgery was corneal/scleral repair (in 33 eyes). Final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in 56 (51.85%) eyes, remained unchanged in 49 (45.37%) eyes and worsened in 03 (2.77%) eyes.

Conclusion: Blast related ocular injuries are becoming increasingly common. In severely injured eyes the visual prognosis remains poor despite development of advanced microsurgical techniques and better methods of visual rehabilitation.