Ying Liu1,2, Annette Hoskin1,3,4, Stephanie Watson1,5

Purpose: To report on the epidemiology, aetiology and outcomes of eye injuries in children aged 0-16 years treated at Sydney Eye Hospital, Children’s

Hospital and Sydney Children’s Hospital from 2009-2015.
Methods: Patients were identified using hospital diagnostic and procedure codes. Medical records were examined to confirm diagnosis of open or closed globe injury, demographic data, injury mech- anism, ocular details and best corrected visual acu- ities (BCVA) before and after treatment. Open globe injuries (OGI) were classified as globe ruptures, penetrating eye injuries, intraocular foreign bodies or perforating injuries based on Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT).
Results: There were 295 cases of eye injuries with 96 OGI and 199 closed globe injuries (CGI). 77 chil- dren (26%) were transferred from rural New South Wales. Injuries were commonest in males (72%) with peaks in males for OGI in 3-5-year-olds, and CGI in 12-14-year-olds. A projectile was the most common mechanism, 106 cases (36%), followed by being struck in 101 cases (34%). The commonest agents of injury were sporting equipment (13%), toys (10%), and sticks (10%). 53% of OGI were caused by stationary, sticks, knives and metal. Ini- tial BCVA was a good predictor of final BCVA. Final BCVA of 6/12 or better was achieved in 67%, including 40% of OGIs and 83% of CGIs. Rate of enucleation and evisceration were both 1% (n = 3). Conclusion: Both open and closed globe injuries occur in children, with males most commonly affected and the initial vision predictive of the final outcome. Preventive measures can use these data to improve outcomes.