Clinical and epidemiological behavior of ocular trauma in time of COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: ocular trauma is one of the most common causes of blindness in young people.

Objective: to describe some clinical and epidemiological characteristics in patients with ocular trauma in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: a cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on the universe of 2 534 patients with ocular trauma from the Ciego de Ávila province who attended the ophthalmology emergency room of Ciego de Ávila Hospital during the first seven months of the pandemic (from April to October 2020). The variables studied were: age group, sex, health areas of origin, types of trauma and injuries. The data was obtained from the charge sheets. Ethical aspects were met.

Results: male patients (75,14 %), from the age group between 40 and 49 years (25,18 %), from the northern health area of Ciego de Ávila (33,27 %) and blunt traumatisms prevailed. (87,61 %), and of them, the corneal foreign body (44,86 %). Among the palpebral traumas, the wound without section of the canaliculus was more frequent (31,17 %) and among the open injuries, the penetrating corneal wound (62,50 %).

Conclusions: during the first seven months of the pandemic, ocular traumatisms occurred with high frequency in male patients. There was a slight increase in their ages. The presence of a corneal foreign body was the most frequent diagnosis.