Geographical differences in ophthalmic trauma outcomes and risk factors: the International Globe and Adnexal Trauma Epidemiological Eye Study (IGATES).

Objectives: Characterise the international variation in ophthalmic trauma and determine risk factors associated with visual and anatomical outcomes for low-, middle- and high-income countries.

Subjects/methods: Observational multi-centre cohort study using data from the International Globe and Adnexal Trauma Epidemiological Eye Study (IGATES) from April 2014 to August 2023. Data on acute presentations of ophthalmic injury including open/closed globe injury, and/or Adnexal/orbital involvement, and/or intraocular/ intraorbital foreign body were collected and Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) was calculated. A total of 5350 patients (5557 eyes) from 31 centres in 12 countries were included. The main outcome measures included demographics, mechanism and setting of injury, and presenting and final visual outcomes. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis tests and multinomial logistic regression (MLR) analysis are presented, with correction performed using the Hochberg method. P values less than 0.005 were significant.

Results: Age, gender, presenting and final best-corrected visual acuity were all strongly associated with country (p < 0.005). Poor final visual outcomes were strongly associated with OTS predictions, type of injury (p < 0.005) and delayed presentation as well as firework injuries. High-income countries (HIC) showing reduced duration to presentation (HIC 5 h) and increased improvement in visual acuity (HIC -0.40) compared to low to middle-income countries (LMICs) (28 h) (-0.19). MLR analysis identified a significant association between countries' income classification and BCVA worse than 6/60, presence of scleral, iris, limbus injury and surgery being undertaken (p < 0.005).

Conclusion: Data from 31 centres internationally identified differences in demographic trends for each country. Age was identified as a risk factor for eye injuries. Low- and middle-income countries were associated with longer delays to presentation, smaller gains in BCVA and poorer visual outcomes. IGATES provides an opportunity to collect global data on ophthalmic trauma to facilitate improved management and prevention strategies.