Two hundred and sixty four patients having acute ophthalmological
problems who attended outpatient clinic of Ophthalmology Department or
emergency room in Banha University Hospital during May, June and July
1994 were studied.
Acute ocular inflammations, ocular trauma and miscellaneous causes
represented 36.7%, 36% and 27.3% of cases respectively. Acute bacterial or
viral conjunctivitis, corneal abrasions and acute allergic conjunctivitis were
the commonest in the previous three categories (40.2%, 35.8% and 48.6%
respectively).
Acute ocular inflammations were common in preschool children
(76.7%), rural residents (42.5%) and non-educated patients (42.0%). Ocular
I.
trauma affected males more than females with a ratio of (1.6 : 1). It
occurred mainly in childhood (48.4%) and in manual and skilled workers
(48.6%). Blunt trauma was the commonest cause of ocular trauma in
childhood (53.7%) while foreign bodies were the commonest in adults
(45%).
Self referral accounted for 80.7% of cases while referral by private or
general health services accounted for the remainder (11.7% and 7.6%
respectively).
Among the studied cases, 73.8% attended the out-patient clinic and
26.2% attended the emergency room. Most of acute ocular inflammations
(81.5%) received out-patient medical treatment, while cases of ocular
trauma were mainly surgically managed either in outpatient (45.3%) or
inpatient (28.4%). Miscellaneous cases were either medically treated in
outpatient (63.9%) or were admitted to hospital for surgical or medical
management (29.2% and 6.9% respectively). Residents managed most
cases of acute inflammations and ocular trauma alone (87.6% and 85.2%
respectively), while staff interfered more in management of miscellaneous
cases (31.9%).
Preventive measures for ocular infection and trauma are recommended.
Supply of needed equipments and continuous training of residents is
essential to maintain effective services.
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