Subarna K. Khatry
The epidemiology of ocular trauma in rural Nepal
Bloomberg (United States)
aims estimate incidence ocular injury rural nepal identify details injuries predict poor visual outcomemethods reports ocular trauma collected 1995 2000 patients presenting eye care clinic sarlahi district nepalpatients given standard free eye examination interviewed context injuryfollow examination performed 24 months initial injuryresults 525 cases incident ocular injury reported mean age 28 yearsusing census data incidence 065 per 1000 males per year 038 per 1000 females per yearthe common types injury lacerating blunt majority occurring home fieldsupon presentation clinic 264 patients best corrected visual acuity worse 2060 injured eye 96 visual acuity worse 2040082 examined follow 112 patients visual acuity worse 2060 46 vision worse 20400a poor visual outcome associated increased age care sought site eye clinic severe injury3 patients referred care eye hospital initial visit 7 sought additional care interim visits subset representing severe spectrum injuriesconclusions detrimental effects delayed care care outside specialty eye clinic may reflect geographic economic barriers carefor optimal visual outcomes patients injured rural setting recognise injury seek early care specialty eye care facilityfindings study suggest trained nonophthalmologists may able clinically manage many eye injuries encountered rural setting developing world reducing demand acute services ophthalmologists remote locations highly agricultural country