Open-globe injuries in Palestine: epidemiology and factors associated with profound visual loss at St. John Eye Hospital, Jerusalem Riyad Banayot St. John Eye Hospital, Jerusalem, Palestine

Background: The purpose was to describe the epidemiology of open-globe injury (OGI) in Palestine and identify the prognostic factors associated with profound visual loss. Material and methods: The current study is a retrospective review of hospital files for 83 consecutive patients with OGI who presented to St. John Eye Hospital, Jerusalem, within 5 years, between 2009 and 2013. Demographic details included age, gender, wound characteristics, and visual acuity (VA). The Ocular Trauma Classification Group was used for wound location, classification, and scoring for each case. Results: We identified 83 OGI that presented to St. John eye hospital. The study group included 62 males and 21 females. The mean age was 16.66 years ± 3.216. The most frequent injuries were playground injuries (59%), followed by workplace injuries (26.5%). Penetrating injuries represented 45.8% of injuries, and rupture globes occurred in 39.8% of cases. The most frequent objects causing injury were metal (31.3%) and stone (20.5%). Kinetic impact projectiles were a statistically significant poor prognostic factor for the visual outcome. Variables that were statistically significant poor prognostic factors for visual outcome included: retinal detachment, macular scar, vitreous hemorrhage. Conclusion: This study showed that the act of demonstration, street injuries, kinetic impact projectiles, zone III injuries, globe disruption, retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and a poor VA at the first visit are poor prognostic factors for OGI. Recognition of these prognostic factors will help the ophthalmologist evaluate the injury and its prognosis