The Presentation, Patterns and Outcomes of Corneal Injuries in Children Seen in Lighthouse for Christ Eye Centre, Mombasa

Abstract

Background: Corneal injuries constitute a significant cause of corneal blindness, impacting vision significantly, with approximately 1.5 to 2 million new cases of monocular blindness. World Health Organization (WHO) Blindness Data Bank’s most recent data revealed that an estimated 55 million ocular injuries occur worldwide annually. Children's quality of life and Disability Adjusted Life Years may be impacted by ocular trauma, which is a significant and leading cause of acquired and preventable monocular blindness, particularly in developing nations. Study Objectives: The study aimed to determine the presentation, patterns and outcomes of corneal injuries in children seen in Lighthouse for Christ Eye Centre, Mombasa between January 2018 and December 2022. Methods: A hospital-based retrospective case series study design was carried out and 90 medical records of all children up to 18 years of age with corneal injuries were included. A structured questionnaire was used to retrieve information from the medical records. It encompassed the clinical presentation, patterns, outcomes and complications of corneal injuries. Data was coded and entered in SPSS version 26 for analysis. Descriptive statistics such as tables, charts and frequencies were used to summarize the retrieved information. Ethical approval was received from the KNH/UoN Ethics and Research Committee (KNH/UoN ERC), National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) and Lighthouse for Christ Eye Centre, Mombasa.