Epidemiology and factors influencing visual outcome in paediatric ocular trauma at a tertiary health institution in Ghana

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of paediatric ocular trauma (POT) presenting at a tertiary health institution in Ghana and factors influencing visual outcome Design: Prospective study Setting: Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana Participants: Children aged 0-15 years presenting with trauma involving the globe and/or adnexa from January 2022 to February 2023. Interventions: Clinical management of ocular trauma Main outcome measures: best-corrected visual acuity at 6 weeks, and factors influencing visual outcome Results: A significant proportion of children (59.2%) presenting with trauma were between ages 6-10 years (mean age 7.2±3.3 years), with the majority being male (70%). There was no caregiver at the time of injury in most cases (76%). Globe injuries were predominant (78.6%), and most (56.3%) were open globe injuries (OGIs). OGIs and organic objects as causes of injury were associated with unfavourable visual outcomes (p < 0.05). Early presentation, an inorganic object as the cause of injury, a favourable presenting visual acuity, a closed-globe injury, and a higher Paediatric Ocular Trauma Score (POTS) were associated with a favourable visual outcome. A third of children were blind (best-corrected visual acuity < 3/60) in the affected eye at follow-up. Conclusion: Open globe injuries were the most common type of injury and often resulted in poor visual outcomes. Better public awareness, caregiver education, and adult supervision can help prevent these injuries.