Effects of blunt trauma of eye on retinal nerve fibre layer

AIM: To study the effects of blunt trauma of eye on visual acuity and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). METHODS: A prospective observational study was done on the patients of a road traffic accident (RTA) having blunt trauma injury of the eye from august 2018 to July 2019 at the Department of Ophthalmology, Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki. Patients between the age group of 20 to 65 years undergoing RTA with ocular complaints were included in this study. Colour vision, contrast sensitivity, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were recorded, RNFL analysis was done through OCT. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients were enrolled in this study and were grouped as 54 cases and 54 controls. The mean age was 43±2.3 years with 11 (20.37%) females and 43 (79.6%) males in the case group. At initial visit after RTA, the difference between color vision, contrast sensitivity and BCVA between right and left eyes of cases and controls were significant. After a follow up of 3mo only significant difference was noted in contrast sensitivity between cases and control groups. Change in color vision and BCVA after 3mo was insignificant. Similarly, an initial significant difference was noted in mean RNFL thickness between cases and control groups, but after follow up of 3mo mean RNFL thickness difference was significant only in superior and temporal quadrants. CONCLUSION: RTA or blunt trauma of eye can lead to persistent RNFL thinning and decreased visual function.