Clinical features of ocular trauma requiring vitreoretinal surgery: a case series

Abstract

Background: Ocular trauma is a significant cause of monocular blindness and visual impairment worldwide. This report describes the clinical characteristics of ocular trauma requiring vitreoretinal surgery presented to the vitreoretinal unit of Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Case presentation: A retrospective case series study of all traceable records of ocular trauma from the surgical logbook of a single vitreoretinal surgeon from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2019 was performed. Demographics, causes of injury, types of ocular trauma, presenting visual acuity (VA), and postoperative VA were recorded and analysed. All patient data were collected from the medical records system. Of all the ocular trauma cases requiring vitreoretinal surgery, 63.6% were contusions. The most common cause of injury in our group of patients was sports injury (28%). Patients with open-globe injury had poorer preoperative and postoperative VA (logMAR) when compared to those with closed-globe injury (preoperative VA: 1.55 versus 1.39; postoperative VA: 0.93 versus. 0.67, in open- and closed-globe injury respectively, p = 0.467). Conclusion: Specific injury prevention strategies, which include the use of protective eyewear, must be advocated in the workplace and during sports to reduce the incidence and severity of ocular trauma.