[Functional outcomes and prognostic factors of firearm-related ocular trauma among soldiers in the conflict zones of Cameroon]

Abstract

Purpose: To study prognostic factors and functional visual outcomes of soldiers after firearm-related ocular trauma in the conflict zone.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out from January 2017 to December 2022 in the ophthalmology departments of three military hospitals. Soldiers with firearm-related ocular trauma were selected. Epidemiological and clinical data, prognostic factors and functional outcomes were studied. Statistical analyses were performed using IBM-SPSS version 23.0 software. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed, and a P-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 162 eyes of 136 patients were included. The mean age was 28.93±6.52 years. All patients were male. Improvised firearms were the most frequent cause (77%). Bilateral involvement was observed in 26 patients (19.1%). The mean visual acuity of the affected eyes was 1.66±1.04logMAR on admission. Closed globe injuries predominated (72%). The most frequent anatomical lesions of the globe were hyphema (23.4%) and vitreous hemorrhage (19.7%). The mean final visual acuity was 1.38±1.17logMAR, and blindness was observed in 50% of eyes. Factors influencing final visual acuity were type of trauma, initial visual acuity, hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage.

Conclusion: Blindness due to firearm-related eye injuries in the conflict zone of Cameroon is common. Wearing protective glasses or visors might reduce its frequency.

Keywords: Armes à feu; Blindness; Cameroon; Cameroun; Cécité; Facteurs pronostiques; Firearms; Ocular trauma; Prognostic factors; Traumatisme oculaire.