ROLE OF VISUAL EVOKED POTENTIAL AND OCULAR TRAUMA SCORE AS PREDICTORS OF VISUAL RECOVERY IN EYE GLOBE INJURIES.

Abstract

Evaluate visual evoked potential (VEP) and ocular trauma score efficacy in predicting visual potential in globe trauma without optic nerve involvement. A retrospective cohort study analyzed clinical data from eye globe injury cases undergoing flash VEP between January 2000 and May 2021. Inclusion criteria: flash VEP completion within 48 hours and presurgical intervention. Exclusion criteria: head trauma and optic nerve injuries. Abnormal VEP: amplitudes <7 µ V and latencies >120 milliseconds. The ocular trauma score was computed, and penetrating injuries were categorized. Of 85 eyes meeting the criteria (mean age: 31.9 ± 20.6 years, 82.4% male), the median follow-up was 22 months. Ocular trauma score directly correlated with the amount of Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters gained at follow-up and was inversely correlated with ocular penetration extent and VEP signal amplitude. Visual evoked potential amplitude is inversely correlated with maintaining/improving visual acuity. Positive predictive value for normal VEP predicting maintained/improved visual acuity: 75.6%, negative predictive value: 21.3%. In blunt trauma, baseline VEP amplitude had superior predictive value compared with penetrating injury. This study highlights a correlation between VEP signal amplitude and ocular trauma score with visual outcomes in traumatic eye injuries without optic nerve involvement. Ocular trauma score emerges as a reliable VEP substitute, particularly in blunt trauma cases, where baseline VEP amplitude predicts visual recovery more accurately than penetrating injuries.