Wooden sticks and arrows are leading cause of pediatric traumatic cataract in central India

Anupam Sahu

ABU DHABI — Penetrating ocular trauma with wooden sticks and arrows is the leading cause of traumatic cataract in children in central India, both in rural and urban settings, according to a study conducted at MGM Eye Institute, Raipur, India.

"Ocular trauma is a leading cause of unilateral blindness amongst children. In India, 11.6% to 29% of pediatric cataracts are trauma related," Anupam Sahu, MD, said at the World Ophthalmology Congress here.

A retrospective analysis of 77 eyes with pediatric cataract treated between March 2005 and December 2010 showed a high male prevalence (76%) and a high rate of open globe injuries (69%) and a rural background (60%). Most of the injuries were due to wooden sticks and arrows in both rural and urban settings, followed by metal trauma, and then stone injury in urban settings and glass in rural areas. The delay between injury and surgery was on average 5.4 months, ranging between 2 days and 6 years. "Most of these cases had cataract extraction combined with other types of surgical interventions, either before or during the procedure. Retinal involvement was found to be related with the worst visual outcome prognosis," Dr. Sahu said.

Visual acuity improved from less than 20/200 in 92% of the patients preoperatively to 20/80 or better in 73% of the patients postoperatively.

Primary posterior capsulorrhexis with anterior vitrectomy was related to a lower rate of opacification and a better final outcome.

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