Ocular Injuries - a Review VN Sukati
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S Afr Optom 2012 71(2) 86-94 Ocular injuries - a review VN Sukati Discipline of Optometry, School of Physiotherapy, Sport Science and Optometry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, West- ville Campus, Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4000 South Africa Received 28 January 2012; revised version accepted 30 May 2012 <[email protected]> Introduction globe) involves a full thickness wound of the cor- neoscleral wall which may result from penetrating or All ocular structures are vulnerable to injury, but blunt eye trauma. Open globe injuries include lacera- the site often depends on the cause and mechanism tions which are futher divided into penetrating inju- of ocular injury1. The anterior segment of the eye ries, perforating injuries and intraocular foreign bod- which consists of the cornea, conjunctiva, trabecular ies (Figure 1). Closed globe injuries are commonly meshwork, anterior chamber, iris, and crystalline lens due to blunt trauma whereby the corneoscleral wall of is vulnerable to direct trauma. Posterior ocular struc- the globe remains intact (a partial thickness corneal tures include the retina, choroid and optic nerve1. The wound) however, intraocular damage may be present. worst outcome is often seen in the combined anterior They are divided into burns, blunt trauma/contusions and posterior segment injuries with the possibility of and lamellar lacerations. Ruptures are caused by losing all useful vision2-4. Ocular injuries are divided blunt objects with the actual wound being produced into open globe and closed globe injuries, however, by an inside-out mechanism. If the inflicting object there may be an overlap in their classification based is blunt, it can result in either a contusion or a rupture on the causative agent or inflicting object involved. (open globe)5-8. An open globe injury (an injury penetrating into the Figure 1: Standardized classification of ocular trauma using the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT) classification (Kuhn et al, 1996). 86 The South African Optometrist ISSN 0378-9411 S Afr Optom 2012 71(2) 86-94 VN Sukati - Ocular injuries - a review Open and closed globe injuries are further de- Ocular lacerations are treated in different ways de- scribed in terms of zones, elaborating on which struc- pending on whether or not there is tissue prolapse. ture of the eye the wound involves and to what extent However, the surgeon has to explore the extent of the it is. For open globe injuries a zone I wound involves wound first and then determine the status of the crys- the cornea, a zone II wound extends into the anterior talline lens whether to remove it or not with the aid 5 mm of the sclera and a zone III wound involves the of a slit lamp. A crystalline lens can only be removed sclera extending more than 5 mm from limbus. In the following a water tight closure of the laceration. If the case of closed globe injuries, a zone I wound involves wound is extensive and loss of intra-ocular contents only the conjunctiva, sclera or cornea, a zone II in- has been great enough and the prognosis for useful jury includes the anterior chamber including the lens function is hopeless, enucleation/evisceration is indi- and zonules and a zone III injury involves posterior cated as a primary surgical procedure14-16. However, structures including the vitreous, retina, optic nerve, when the wound is clean without tissue prolapse and choroid and ciliary body6, 7. In the past, there was free from contamination, it can usually be repaired by no existence of a standardized classification of inju- direct interrupted sutures and can often heal sponta- ries despite the growth of interest in the publication neously with the aid of an eye pad, contact lenses, or of studies on eye injuries. However, recent studies cyanoacrylate adhesives while administering a topi- approve the existence of the new classification which cal antibiotic and controlling the patient’s pain with has provided better diagnoses and management of oral analgesics. A precaution must be taken for a self these injuries by eye health practitioners6, 8, 9. sealing wound because when an edematous cornea subsides a wound leak may develop. Therefore, Sei- Open globe injuries del test is indicated for evaluation of a corneal wound leak to determine whether aqueous is being emitted or Lacerations not14, 15. The patient needs to be referred to the near- “A laceration is a full thickness wound of the eye est ophthalmologist for surgical repair as soon as pos- wall, usually caused by a sharp object. The wound sible to restore the anatomy or structural integrity of occurs at the impact site by an outside-in mechanism. the globe irrespective of the extent of the injury and The classification is based on whether an intra-ocular the initial visual acuity. If a delay in specialist care foreign body or an exit wound is also present”6. Oc- is anticipated, a systemic oral antibiotic and tetanus casionally, an exit wound may be created by the ob- prophylaxis should be administered to avoid devel- ject while remaining partially intraocular6. opment of endophthalmitis15-17. However, it is ad- Lacerations to the eyelids and the conjunctiva visable to wait until repair of the laceration has been commonly occur from sharp objects but can also completed before adding medications because these occur from a fall10. Most corneoscleral lacerations could be toxic to the retina15-17. are caused by glass from shattered spectacles and Corneal lacerations due to sharp objects have a broken windows and associated with blunt trauma better prognosis compared to blunt trauma injuries10. of flying objects4, 10. Lacerations may occur in one This is because superficial corneal lacerations may of two ways: i) lacerations without prolapse of tis- heal completely with medical therapy alone depend- sue when the eyeball has been penetrated anteriorly ing on the length of the laceration (less than 15 mm). but without prolapse of the intra-ocular contents; and At presentation it is often difficult to assess the visual ii) lacerations with prolapse when a small portion of prognosis and this may lead to the vast majority of in- iris prolapses through a wound, or uveal tissue has juries requiring primary repair. Most successful pro- been injured. Corneal lacerations can involve the cedures performed have resulted in poor vision due iris and crystalline lens forming a cataract whereby to secondary amblyopia and irregular astigmatism. management depends on the duration and extent of Therefore, correcting refractive error and clearing the incarceration11, 12. Corneal lacerations frequently the visual axis through keratoplasty is important for result in prolapse of the iris with distortion of the pu- good visual outcome. A badly injured eye with little pil. Hyphaema is often present reducing vision in the possibility of restoring visual potential has very poor affected eye11, 13. prognosis and the visual outcome does not improve 87 157 The South African Optometrist ISSN 0378-9411 S Afr Optom 2012 71(2) 86-94 VN Sukati - Ocular injuries - a review even after performing several procedures. However, cataract and tractional retinal detachment. Further an open globe injury with good visual potential will operation might be needed among these complica- achieve optimal visual acuity after only about two tions during the follow-up period21. Penetrating inju- procedures9, 10, 18. Therefore, it is reassuring that most ries require immediate careful attention; an accurate injuries caused by sharp objects have a fairly good case history to determine how the injury occurred and prognosis10, 14, 15, 17, 19. then prompt surgical repair to prevent functional loss. The major objectives in the management are to re- Penetrating trauma/Perforating trauma lieve pain, preserve or restore vision and to achieve A penetrating trauma is a single full thickness good cosmetic results. If a patient is suspected of wound laceration caused by a sharp object without having a perforation, intraocular pressure measure- an exit wound whereas a perforating injury has two ments, lids manipulation and motility testing must be full thickness lacerations, an entrance and exit wound avoided. The eye should be covered gently with a caused by the same agent6, 12. It may be associated sterile gauze or eye pad and protective shield but no with prolapse of the internal contents of the eye24. pressure should be applied4. The risk of intraocular The extent of damage depends on the site of ocular infection is often low but prophylactic antibiotics are penetration and the momentum of the object at the routinely prescribed11. In any penetrating injury of time of impact4, 12. the globe it is a wise precaution to take X-rays to ex- Penetrating or perforating trauma can occur follow- clude a retained foreign body11. ing an assault, domestic accidents and sports4, 19, 20. A penetrating injury of one eye may result in a The globe integrity is disrupted by a full-thickness en- sympathizing inflammatory reaction in the fellow try wound whereby the eye is pierced by sharp objects non-injured eye at any time from two weeks to years such as needles, sticks, pencils, knives, arrows, pens, later which is an autoimmune disease whereby uveal glass and any object with sharp edges; or by a high- pigment is released into the bloodstream causing an- velocity missile such as a piece of metal. The extent tibodies to be produced resulting in severe uveitis in of the injury is determined by the size of the object, its both the injured and non-injured eye11. Risk factors speed at the time of impact and its composition. Sharp are minimized by removing the injured eye within objects such as a knife cause a well defined laceration two weeks if there is no chance of saving useful vi- of the globe.