Arshad Lqbal, Snaullah Jon, Muhammad Naeem Khan, Salim Khan, Shad Muhammad.
Admitted ocular emergencies: a four year review.
Pak J Ophthalmol Jan ;23(2):58-63.

Purpose: To acquaint the ophthalmologists and related health professionals about the magnitude of admitted ocular emergencies (OE) for better prevention and management. Material and Methods: This study was conducted over a period of 4 years from 1st January 2000 to 31` December 2003 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Khyber Institute of Ophthalmic Medical Sciences, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. A comprehensive review of the computer record available for admitted ocular emergencies was carried out. Results: Total admissions during the study period were 13807. Total admitted ocular emergencies (OE) were 2789 i.e 20.2% of the total admission. Male to female ratio was 2:1. Non-traumatic OE were 53.0% while traumatic OE were 47.0%. In non-traumatic group males were 59.9% while females were 40.1%. In traumatic group moles were 74.2% and females were 25.8%. In non-traumatic group almost 2/3 of the patients were of 40 years and above age group while in traumatic group more than half of the patients were less than 20 years of age. Corneal ulcers (39.8%) and acute glaucomos (23.3%) were the leading causes of the non-traumatic group while open globe injuries (OGI) (71.9%) were leading the list of traumatic OE. Total surgical procedures performed for ocular emergencies were 1988 i.e 16.0% of the total major ophthalmic surgeries. Average stay in the hospital for non-traumatic OE was 6.6 days, whereas, for the traumatic OE was 5.5 days. Conclusions: OE formed significant proportion of total ophthalmic admissions. Traumatic OE were almost equal to non-traumatic OE. Mole were affected more commonly specially in traumatic group. Average hospital stay for OE was longer than routine admissions. Most of OE needed surgical intervention for proper management.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com