Ocular Trauma Score as a predictor of final visual outcomes in traumatic cataract cases in pediatric patients

Abstract

Purpose: To validate the predictive value of the Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) in children with traumatic cataract.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary eye care center at nexus of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan states, central Western India.

Methods: After meeting inclusion criteria, eyes with traumatic cataract were enrolled and examined to review comorbidities caused by trauma. Surgery was performed for traumatic cataract, intraocular lenses were implanted, and patients were treated for amblyopia, as applicable. Patients were reexamined 6 weeks postoperatively. Based on ocular trauma described according to the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System, the patients were divided into 2 traumatic cataract groups: open-globe injury and closed-globe injury. The relationship between final corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and demographic and clinical variables was analyzed. Visual outcomes were predicted using the OTS, and the predictions were compared with actual outcomes using statistical tests.

Results: The study enrolled 354 children. Six weeks postoperatively, the CDVA was better than 20/200 in 181 eyes (63.0%) and 20/40 or better in 110 eyes (38.4%) in the open-globe group and better than 20/200 in 36 eyes (53%) and 20/40 or better in 15 eyes (22.4%) in the closed-globe group. The differences between the groups were not significant (P=.143). Of all eyes, 214 (61.3%) achieved a final CDVA of better than 20/200 and 123 eyes (35.3%), of 20/40 or better.

Conclusion: The OTS was a reliable predictor of the final visual outcome in cases of pediatric traumatic cataract.