ETIOLOGY OF OPHTHALMIC MEDICOLEGAL CASES PRESENTING TO TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

Abstract

Objectives: To study the etiology and visual acuity profile of ophthalmic medicolegal cases presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. Period: 1-3-2017 to 30-10-2018. Methodology: This retrospective study was conducted after taking ethical approval from the institutional review board. Record of medicolegal cases presenting during the study period were studied and assessed. In this study, etiology of trauma inflicted to eye and visual acuity at presentation were analyzed in addition to the age, gender and eye distribution. Age and visual acuity were categorized into subsets for assessment. Results: The authors reviewed the data of 40 ophthalmic medicolegal cases presenting to the department. The medicolegal cases were common in patients aging between 21-30 years (32.5%) which predominantly involved males (65%). Right eye was involved in 40% of patients and 35% of patients had normal (6/6) visual acuity. Most common trauma inflicted to eye was by fist or blow from hand in 75% of cases. Conclusion: Trauma to eye in medicolegal cases is common and is frequently inflicted by fist or hand.