Ocular Complications of Facial Burns in the Pediatric Population.

This study focuses on identifying risk factors for permanent ocular complications in pediatric patients with periorbital burns treated at an urban academic burn center from 2010 to 2020. Among 300 patients under 18 years with periorbital or ocular thermal injuries, flame burns were associated with the most severe ocular injuries and ICU admissions, while chemical burns had the highest rates of corneal injury and bilateral involvement. Early ophthalmology consultation occurred in 71% of cases, but only 29.5% attended recommended follow-up visits; six patients developed serious late ocular sequelae such as ectropion and corneal decompensation. The study concludes that early ophthalmologic evaluation is critical for patients with flame, scald, grease, chemical, and contact burns, especially those with burns localized to the periorbital region, to reduce the risk of long-term vision impairment.