Epidemiological and Clinical Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Visual Outcomes Following Severe Penetrating Eye Injuries

Objective: Penetrating eye injuries (PEIs) remain a significant cause of vision impairment and loss, affecting individuals of all ages. A deeper understanding of factors influencing vision is crucial for improving treatment outcomes in patients with PEIs.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records of 120 patients who sustained open globe injuries between January 2020 and January 2024 at the City Clinical Emergency Hospital. Data analyzed included age, gender, type, cause, and location of PEI, as well as initial visual acuity (VA) and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Open globe injuries were classified using the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT, 1998).

Results: The average patient age was 41.9 years. The male-to-female ratio was 8.4:1. The primary causes of injury were work-related accidents (38.3%), environmental factors (12.5%), and domestic injuries (15.8%). Penetrating injuries accounted for 43.5%, intraocular foreign bodies for 39.1%, and globe ruptures for 13%. Overall, 19.5% of patients achieved good final vision (BCVA ≥ 0.5), while 48.1% experienced severe visual impairment (BCVA ≤ 0.02) due to the eye injury.

Conclusions: Open globe injuries remain a significant and preventable cause of ocular morbidity. This study highlights that such injuries are a major factor contributing to vision impairment in the patient population under investigation.