A retrospective study of the incidence and prevalence of thermal corneal injury in patients with burns

• Published in: Journal of burn care & rehabilitation Vol. 19; no. 3; p. 216
• Main Authors: Boone, K D, Boone, D E, Lewis, 2nd, R W, Kealey, G P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-05-1998
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Cornea - pathology; Corneal Injuries; Eye Burns - complications; Eye Burns - epidemiology; Eye Burns - pathology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Iowa - epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Visual Acuity; Iowa
• ISSN: 0273-8481
• DOI: 10.1097/00004630-199805000-00006

The clinical course of thermal corneal injuries is not well described. A review of 1750 burn admissions to a regional burn center between 1979 through 1993 was done to determine the clinical course of thermal corneal injuries. Twenty-five out of 1750 burn admissions (1%) presented with a thermal corneal injury. Corneal injuries were identified with use of a fluorescein dye and a Wood's lamp. Ophthalmologic consultation was obtained for those identified. Data were analyzed with the Fisher's exact test and the unpaired two-tailed Student's t test. Patients with thermal corneal injury did not differ demographically from other patients with burn injury. Open-flame burns were the most common cause of injury. Improvement of corneal injury occurred in all survivors who had an intact globe on initial examination. Initial visual acuity was not a good predictor of outcome, and long-term complications were uncommon.