Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of ocular burns at the Ophthalmology Department, Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics and evaluate the treatment outcomes of ocular burn patients at the Ophthalmology Department, Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on patients with ocular burns treated at the Ophthalmology Department, from October 2024 to May 2025. Results: The average age was 40.1 ± 13.4 years, with the 16–45 age group accounting for the highest proportion (65.2%). Most patients were male, and the most common cause of injury was occupational accidents (52.2%). The most frequent causative agent was alkali burns (39.1%). Notably, 30.4% of patients did not perform immediate eye irrigation after injury. Most thermal burns were mild (grade I), whereas the majority of alkali burns were severe (grades III and IV). Post-treatment visual acuity improved significantly, although patients with alkali burns had lower visual outcomes. The average treatment duration was 10.7 ± 5.1 days, and 33.3% of affected eyes required surgical intervention. After treatment, 18.2% of eyes had corneal scarring, 9.1% had corneal neovascularization, and 3% developed symblepharon. No cases of corneal perforation or phthisis bulbi were recorded. Conclusion: Males in the working-age group were the most commonly affected by ocular burns. Alkali was the most common causative agent and was associated with more severe injuries. Treatment outcomes demonstrated notable improvement in visual acuity, with no severe complications leading to vision loss. However, the rate of corneal scarring post-treatment was still high.