A Prospective Study to Evaluate the Structural and Functional Loss in Eyes Due to Road Traffic Accidents

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the structural and functional loss in eye due to road trafc accidents (RTA), and secondarily to study the pattern of ocular injuries and demographic prole of ocular injuries due to RTA. This is a prospective,Methods observational, hospital based study, conducted on 50 patients with ocular injuries following RTA. A detailed demographic data and details of the injury was obtained. Information regarding time, location, type and mechanism of eye injury and use of protective eye wear was recorded.Complete ophthalmic examination was done and B scan, CT orbit and other investigations were done wherever required. Of these 50 patients were followed up at 1stweek, 3rd week, 2 months and 6 months. Maximum cases were seen in age group 21- 30 years (33%), moreResult in males (82%) and two wheelers and adnexal injury was more common. At the end of 6 months, there were 14% (n=07) cases with residual functional loss. These were associated with severe impairment in visual acuity (nger count, perception of light, loss of light perception). Conclusion Evaluation of ocular trauma cases quantitatively would help in measuring precisely the improvement and deterioration in each case and helps to know the progress of the case and effect of treatment. So far in assessment of damage, only eye ball is considered whereas in this method damage to ocular adnexa is also calculated. In future, more studies should be conducted to check the utility of this concept.