Posters

Management of infective corneal ulcers in a high-income developing country

Poster Details

First Author: M.Elhanan UAE

Co Author(s):    T. AlMahmoud   M. Elshamsy   H. Alshamsi   F. Abu Zidan   .         

Abstract Details

Purpose:

We aimed to study the clinical presentation and outcome of hospitalized patients having infective corneal ulcers.

Setting:

All patients who were diagnosed as microbial keratitis and were admitted to Al-Ain Hospital during the period July 2011-Dec 2016 were retrospectively studied.

Methods:

Patients’ demography, predisposing factors, symptoms and signs at presentation, time to presentation after onset of symptoms, microbial isolates, hospital stay, and visual acuity (VA) outcome were studied. 74 patients with corneal ulcers were hospitalized.

Results:

79.7% males. The median age 44 years. 36.5% trauma. The main symptoms were pain 90.5%, red eye 79.7%, and decreased vision 63.5%. All patients had stromal infiltrate while 39.2% hypopyon. The average time from the start of the symptoms to hospital presentation was 11 days. Bacteria were identified in 27 eyes and fungus in 16. Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9 eyes and Staph. Epidermis 5 eyes were the most common bacterial islolates. Aspergillus 6 eyes was the most common fungus species. 95.2% of the bacterial isolates were susceptible to the quinolone. 51.9% had a vision worse than 6/60 in the affected eye.

Conclusions:

Corneal ulcer poses a significant threat to the sight of an affected eye. Trauma was the most common risk factor for corneal ulcers. Usage of eyes personal protective equipment for high risk occupations and earlier accessibility to health care may reduce the impact of corneal ulcers in our community.

Financial Disclosure:

None