Yafa Alshamlan
King Abdul- Aziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia
Title: Pattern of Neuro-ophthalmic cases presented to King Abdul- Aziz University Hospital’s Emergency Department in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A two-year retrospective study
Biography
Biography: Yafa Alshamlan
Abstract
Purpose: To assess the pattern and epidemiological characteristics of neuro-ophthalmic cases presented to ophthalmic Emergency Department (E/D) at a tertiary referral hospital, King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May 2013 to April 2015.
Method: A retrospective study that implied all patients who presented to the ophthalmology E/D from May 2013 to April 2015 at KAUH. Data were collected from ophthalmic emergency registry book for all patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria and were analyzed according to demographics, date of visit, diagnosis and management.
Results: Among the emergency cases that presented to KAUH for two consecutive years, 414 cases were diagnosed as neuro-ophthalmic patients. Mean (SD) age was 38.1(19.0) (ranging from 2 months-88 years). Of them, 93.5% were above 15 years of age, gender was almost equally distributed, with the majority being Saudi citizens. Most of cases (78.3%) had unilateral ocular involvement, while (21.7%) were bilateral. Optic neuritis was the most prevalent diagnosis comprising (22.5%) of neuro-ophthalmic emergencies, leaving (15%) for 6th nerve palsy, (10.9%) 3rd nerve palsy, (8.7%) bilateral optic disc swelling, and (7%) 7th nerve palsy in addition to other causes. Half of the cases were managed via home and appointment advice, home and rest covered (33.3%), (4.1%) had home rest and medical treatment regimen, while few cases equally required admission and referral either for further investigations or advised interventions.
Conclusion: The majority of cases were adults with equal gender distribution, mainly presenting with unilateral ocular involvement. Optic neuritis was the most prevalent diagnosis while the most common management was home and appointment advice. Early detection and referral of neuro-ophthalmic cases would enable delivering the optimal healthcare to such cases.