VISUAL OUTCOME OF CHILDHOOD ANTERIOR PERFORATING EYE INJURIES - PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS

Ninety-six cases of anterior globe perforation in children less than 1 6 years old, requiring surgical repair, were reviewed. Seventy-three p atients were male and 23 female, with a mean age of 9 years 4 months. Perforation involving just the cornea was associated with a good visua l prognosis unless: it involved the visual axis, resulting in corneal scarring and/or significant astigmatism (>3.0 DS); it involved greater than one-quarter of corneal diameter; or there was non-compliance wit h spectacles/patching in patients younger than 8 years old. Injuries i nvolving the lens in those younger than 8 years were associated with a far worse prognosis due to the problems of correcting aphakia. Surgic al delay and method of injury did not affect prognosis. Some patients fail to re-attend and greater patient/parent education prior to discha rge is recommended.