Purpose To assess the pattern, presentation and risk factors of ocular trauma among patients treated at Hawassa University, Referral Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, South Ethiopia, 2014 Methods The medical records of all patients treated for ocular trauma at Hawassa University, Referral Hospital, Ophthalmology Department, during the period January 01, 2012 to July 31, 2014, were retrospectively reviewed. Trained optometrists, ophthalmic nurses and ophthalmic officer collected the data using a pretested data abstraction form. The descriptive and analytic statistics was carried out. Results A total of 773 patients (549 males and 224 females) were included in the study. Closed globe injury was more common in males (P = 0.019) and open globe injury was significantly common in children (P < 0.001). Corneal tear was the most frequently observed finding (39.33%). Surgery, secondary to trauma, was common in open globe injury (P < 0.001). About 98% of the patients presented after 6 hours post trauma. Among 84.61% patients whose visual acuity (VA) was recorded at presentation, 12.23% had VA of 6/6 and 65.90% had VA of <3/60. Conclusion Ocular trauma was more common in males and children. Majority of patients (98%) presented after 6 hours post trauma. Cornea was the most commonly affected ocular structure by trauma.

Background: Ocular trauma is a significant public health problem which may lead to permanent visual impairment. Being preventable, the visual impairment can occur at any age in either sex and has significant socioeconomic burden especially in developing countries. Objective: To assess the pattern, presentation and risk factors of ocular trauma in patients treated at Hawassa University, Referral Hospital, South Ethiopia Methods: The study was conducted from August 01, 2014 to July 31, 2015, and all patients who visited Hawassa University, Referral Hospital for ocular trauma were included in the study. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS version 20 and the descriptive and analytic statistics were carried out. Results: A total of 335 patients were included into the study. Ocular trauma was observed mostly in children (65.67%) and rural dwellers (76.12%). Assault trauma and surgery, secondary to trauma, were associated with open globe injury (P = 0.021, AOR = 43.17 and P = 0.006, AOR = 25.67, respectively). The corneal tear was the most frequently observed finding (59.70%). Most of the patients (>90%) presented after 6 hours from time of ocular trauma and the treatment was commenced also after 6 hours in >95% of them. Among all patients included in the study, 59.71% of them were with visual acuity of <3/60 at presentation. Conclusion: Ocular trauma was high in males, children, rural dwellers and low income families and most of the patients (>90%) presented after 6 hours from time of ocular trauma.