Evaluation of Eye Consultations Requested from the Pediatric Emergency Service: Experience of a Tertiary Center

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the reasons for visits, demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, the methods of approach to these patients who visited the pediatric emergency service and were consulted to ophthalmology. Material and Methods: The files of patients consulted to the Ophthalmology Clinic from Pediatric Emergency Department were analyzed retrospectively. Age and gender distribution of patients, complaints at the time of visits, clinical characteristics, diagnoses, diagnostic examinations and treatment methods were recorded. Results: Of the 241 patients, 164 (68.0%) were male and 77 (32.0%) were female. The median age was 11.0 (3.0-15.0) years. According to age groups, the highest number of patients was in the 12-17 age group with 117 (48.5%) patients. The most common complaints were foreign body in eye with 30.3% (n=73), eye redness with 10.8% (n=26), sticky eye with 8.3% (n=20) and eyelid swelling with 8.3% (n=20). The most common diagnoses were foreign body (31.1%, n=75), conjunctivitis (26.1%, n=63) and corneal epithelial defect (10.0%, n=24). Considering the distribution of diagnoses by age groups, conjunctivitis was the most common in the 0-5 and 6-11 age groups, foreign body in the 12-17 age group. While medical treatment was given to 59.3% (n=143) of the patients, intervention under local anesthesia was performed for 29.5% (n=71) of the patients. Of the seven patients that were hospitalized, five of them were treated under general anesthesia and two of them received surgical operations. Conclusion: Pediatric emergency visits with eye complaints in children were most common between 12-17 years of age and the most common cause was foreign bodies in the eye. All hospitalized patients were 0-5 years old and the most common reason for hospitalization was foreign bodies. Clinicians’ awareness should be increased on common pediatric eye emergencies accordingly.