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.