OCULAR CHEMICAL INJURIES: A CLINICAL STUDY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: MATERIALS AND To study the clinical prole and visual outcome of ocular chemical injuries. METHODS : The study involves cases of ocular chemical injury. Detailed history regarding the injury was taken . The visual acuity was assessed. Slit-lamp, direct, and indirect ophthalmoscopes were used to perform a thorough eye examination. Roper Hall classication was used for clinical grading. Other ocular investigations were carried out if needed. A total of 57 eyes from 49 patients RESULTS : were included in this study. Lower socioeconomic groups have a higher rate of chemical injuries. Alkali injuries (65%) were more common than acid injuries (35 percent ). The most common etiological agent was calcium carbonate (30%). The majority of chemical injuries were unilateral (72 percent ). A large percentage of patients (49%) are in grade 1 and a small percentage are in grade 4 (5 percent ). The majority of individuals with grade 1 chemical injury had visual acuity greater than 6/12. The nal visual acuity is determined by the initial grading and visual acuity; the higher the grade, the lesser are the chances of signicant visual improvement. CONCLUSION : Early presentation with good presenting visual acuity is associated with a favourable structural and visual prognosis as well as fewer complications. Lower grades of injury had a better nal visual outcome. Alkali injuries in grades 3 and 4 are more severe than acid injuries