The limitations in our study are,
1. The follow up is only for a brief period of time and the population size is small. Long term follow up of a larger population of children with eye injuries would provide information that is crucial to completely assess the public health impact of pediatric eye trauma and its associated ocular morbidity.
2. The Incidence of permanent visual loss cannot be predicted from the incidence rates of eye injuries because many of the vision-threatening complications of such injuries (eg. retinal detachment, cataract) develop months after the initial event.
3. Many of the patients in our study came from socioeconomic situations that did not allow for regular follow-up evaluation.
4. The current study included only children who presented to us with a primary diagnosis of ocular trauma excluding those with traumatic injury who would have sought neurosurgery or plastic surgery services.
5. This study did not investigate how the management of a condition should be adjusted or improved based on individual etiology. This topic requires an additional prospective study in the future.
Though there are limitations, an important point that can be concluded from the data presented in this study is that it clearly indicates that the majority of pediatric eye injuries are preventable.
Diwali crackers are more dangerous. The cornea shows the highest incidence of involvement because it is the most exposed part of the eye ball. The necessity of seeking professional medical help soon after the injury and the danger of delaying treatment should be stressed. To maximize outcomes, immediate and careful evaluation and treatment by ophthalmologists is advocated.
The present survey confirms that elementary schoolchildren are the most vulnerable age group who cannot be fully responsible for their actions. Hence, parents and carers need education in preparing the home environment to be safe for children. Adequate supervision and appropriate ocular protection for children must be stressed especially when using sharp tool or scissors. Safer tools such as blunt nosed scissors should be provided and access to sharp or dangerous household utensils should be restricted.
Plants with thorns are not suitable in gardens with children. Games involving throwing projectiles should be disallowed.
The government should take action legally to abolish the habit of bursting crackers for Diwali. If it is not possible, children should be supervised by responsible adults while bursting crackers. Possible avenues of dissemination of this information would be through schools, medical practices and baby health clinics and through media
