SPECTRUM OF COMBAT OCULAR INJURIES IN PAKISTAN ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL FIGHTING WAR AGAINST TERRORISM

Combat Ocular Injuries

Abstract

Objective: To describe spectrum of ocular injuries occurring in soldiers taking part in war against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkha province of Pakistan.
Study Design: Descriptive study.
Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, from August 2009 to August 2011.
Patients and Methods: The study population comprised of 95 serving soldiers who sustained ocular trauma isolated or in association with other war injuries and were evacuated to CMH Peshawar. Their detailed ophthalmic examination was carried out. Laterality, type, pattern and extent of ocular injuries were recorded.
Results: All the patients were male from 18-40 years of age. Isolated ocular injuries were found in 36.8% whereas ocular injuries associated with other injuries were in 63.2% of patients. Both eyes were damaged in 44.2% where as monocular involvement was observed in 55.8% of patients. Open globe injuries with or without adnexal involvement were more common (56.8%). Primary evisceration/enucleation was performed in 11.6% of cases. There were no cases of sympathetic ophthalmitis or endophthalmitis.
Conclusion: There is a wide spectrum of type and pattern of ocular injuries occurring as a result of combat ocular trauma. In modern warfare, number of open globe injuries is persistently increasing probably due to advanced weaponary.