Pediatric Eye Emergency Department Visits: Retrospective Review and Evaluation

Purpose: To assess the epidemiology of pediatric ocular conditions presenting to an ophthalmic emergency department and analyze the incidence of ocular trauma and other ophthalmic diagnoses. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients seen in an urban eye emergency department over a 1-year period. The following variables were examined: visit date, demographics, diagnosis, mechanism of injury, and level of patient care. Results: Analysis was performed on 1,136 pediatric visits spanning 1 year. Trauma was the most common etiology, seen in 44.4% of patients, followed by infection in 19.3%. The largest volume of pediatric use was in the spring and early summer, with the peak of trauma in the spring. Most admissions of pediatric patients were due to trauma (76.4%), of which the most common diagnoses were ruptured globe (27.3%), eyelid laceration (18.2%), and orbital fracture (10.9%). Sporting activities were the most frequent broad cause of trauma seen in pediatric patients, accounting for 30.9% of all trauma, whereas the highest singular cause of trauma was injury by air guns (9.5%). Conclusions: Pediatric ophthalmic emergency department visits in this urban setting are most often due to trauma, with increased use in the spring and early summer. A majority of the more serious conditions leading to admission can be attributed to trauma, which is often preventable. Knowledge of patterns of visits could improve planning of ophthalmology physician coverage.