Incidence of Pencil and Pen Eye Injury among Children in Anambra State, South-East, Nigeria: Ten Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Eye injuries constitute a significant portion of most ophthalmologic consultations and ocular emergencies with grave consequences, especially in children, if not managed well early enough. Traumatic eye damage is the leading cause of monocular blindness worldwide. This study aimed to determine the incidence, circumstances and types of ocular injury among children in Anambra state, South-East, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A ten- year retrospective study of 211 children aged below 18 years who presented with eye trauma in two mission hospitals in Anambra State, Nigeria. Case file of children with ocular trauma were retrieved from the medical records and those with pencil and pen injury isolated. Required information was extracted from the case files and recorded in a pro-forma. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science, Version 20 (SPSS-20). Results: The incidence of pencil/pen eye injury was 10.9% (23/211). The injuries were commoner in males (M:F=1.6:1) and in those aged five years and below. Stab injuries constituted 56.5% (13) of the injuries while 34.8% (8) were missile injuries. Forty-six percent (6) of the stab injuries were self-inflicted with two-third of this being in children younger than five years. Corneal laceration, followed by anterior uveitis, was the commonest form of eye injury. Conclusion: There is a high incidence of pencil and pen injury in South-East, Nigerian children. Although visual prognosis is good with early presentation and treatment, adequate preventive measures should be put in place to forestall the occurrence of this potentially blinding condition in children.