Clinical-epidemiological characterization of patients with severe corneal ulcers

Abstract

Background: corneal ulcers have a psychosocial, ophthalmologic and economic impact on the patient and its family.

Objective: to characterize clinically and epidemiologically patients with severe corneal ulcers.

Method: a cross-sectional, descriptive and prospective study was conducted at Dr. Ernesto Guevara de la Serna General Hospital, from 2021 to 2023. The study universe consisted of 130 patients with corneal ulcers, and the sample of 50 patients with severe corneal ulcers, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The variables studied were: age, sex, origin, predisposing factors, better visual acuity in affected eye, identified microbiological agents, and complications. Absolute and relative frequency were determined by calculating the percentage.

Results: the most affected age group was 39-59 years; males and rural origin were more common. Among the systemic predisposing factors, diabetes mellitus was highlighted and among the ocular traumas non-surgical followed by corneal foreign bodies. Regarding the best corrected visual acuity in affected eye, the diagnosis was moderate deterioration of distant vision. The study of identified microbiological agents showed a predominance of fungal etiology, followed by bacterial etiology. Ocular hypertension was the most frequent complication, followed by hematocele.

Conclusions: timely diagnosis, sociodemographic, systemic and ocular factors, together with the administration of appropriate antimicrobial treatment according to the etiological agent, can prevent complications and blindness as an after-effect.