CLINICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS OF SNAKE VENOM OPHTHALMIA PRESENTING TO THE TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE

Purpose: To study the clinical profile of patients of snake venom ophthalmia presenting to the tertiary health care centre.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study that involved25 patients with snake venom ophthalmia complaining of pain, diminution of vision, photophobia, conjunctival congestion , chemosis, corneal edema, corneal erosions and anterior chamber reaction.

Results: There were 18 males and 7 females and the age group taken was 30 to 75 years. Most common presentation in snake venom ophthalmia patients is pain in 92% patients followed bydiminution of vision in 90% patients,conjunctival congestion in 88% patients, photophobia in 84% patients, chemosis in 80% patients, corneal edema in 65% patients, corneal erosions in 55% patients and anterior chamber reaction in 35% patients.

Conclusion: Snake venom ophthalmia due to venom spitting is a reflex mechanism aimed at ejecting venom forcefully into the eyes of the victims. Snake venom may contain a mixture of neurotoxins, cytotoxins, phospholipases and cardiotoxins. The ocular effects of the venom depend on duration of contact of ocular surface with venom. Snake venom ophthalmia is rare form of envenoming which presents as intensely painful blurred vision associated with photophobia, conjunctival congestion, chemosis, corneal epithelial defects and anterior chamber reaction.