Characteristics of pediatric ocular trauma in a tertiary hospital in Israel 2011–2020 – How can public prevention policy be improved?

Purpose To describe and analyze characteristics and trends of pediatric ocular trauma during 2011–2020. Methods Retrospective descriptive study. Data were collected on all pediatric ocular trauma cases that presented to a Rambam Health Care Campus during 2011–2020. Data included age, gender, visual acuity, diagnosis, injury mechanism and surgical repair. Results Median BCVA at presentation was 0.96 (logMAR). Males and non-adolescent males specifically were the most prominent groups (70.6% and 44.7%, respectively). The ratio of ocular trauma cases to total pediatric emergency department (ED) visits was stable during 2011–2020 ( p = 0.714) regardless of gender ( p = 0.832 and p = 0.545 for boys and girls, respectively). The leading causes were partial thickness eyelid laceration, periorbital hematoma, and extraocular muscle contusion, all of which were stable over the study period ( p = 0.678, p = 0.203 and p = 0.398, respectively). Falls and children play were the most common mechanisms (25.8% and 18.4%, respectively), but differed between age groups. Most patients did not require consecutive operation and were treated conservatively ( p < 0.01). Conclusion Pediatric ocular injuries to pediatric ED visits ratio remained stable during 2011–2020, regardless of gender. Non-adolescent males accounted for nearly half of all cases, with different mechanisms for each age group. Consecutive surgery was rarely necessary.