Evaluation of Ophthalmology Consultations of Inpatients In A Tertiary Pediatric Hospital

Objective: The eye can be affected by acute infections, traumas, primary eye diseases and systemic diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ophthalmology consultations of inpatients in our hospital between January 2016 and December 2017 and to determine the ocular findings in patients with chronic disease. Method: The age, gender, treatment, chronic disease (if any) of the patients whom consulted to the ophthalmology department were recorded. The reason for consultation to ophthalmology and examination findings were tried to be determined. Results: 1514 (5.3%) of 28.556 inpatients were consulted to ophthalmology department between January 2016 and December 2017. Of these patients, 829 (54.76%) were male and the median age was 63.5 months (range 8-154 months). Besides 958 (63.28%) patients had chronic disease. The patients had conjunctivitis (n=92; 6.08%), refractive errors (n=47; 3.1%), papillary edema (n=44; 2.91%), and preseptal cellulitis (n=26; 1.72%). In addition, the anterior lenticonus, Lisch nodule, Kayser-Fleischer ring, Japanese flag appearance, uveitis findings, hypertensive retinopathy and ROP were the important findings of the examination. Conclusion: As a result the eye involvement may be secondary to systemic diseases as well as primary diseases of the eye. In patients with chronic disease, it is important to perform regular eye examinations in order to determine the involvement that may develop in the later stages even if there are no ocular signs.