FP495 : Ocular Findings in Bites by Poisonous Snakes: Ophthalmic Complications & Guidelines to Prevent them.

Dr.Nilufer Sayed Mohammed

Cobra,krait (elapid neurotoxic family) and russels- saw scaled viper (vasculotoxic/haemotoxic, prevent clotting of blood) are poisonous snakes of India. Detailed eye examination & investigations

to detect direct/indirect ocular trauma & complications were done in 920 poisonous snake bites patients of

last 6 years with 9 months follow up in a tertiary care teaching hospital of S.India where snake bites are

common & analysed. Out of 920 cases, 78 patients had eye manifestations. 81% males, age varied from

10-74 yrs, maximum in 21-30 age group. Ocular complications were DV 49%,lid edema 53%, chemosis 64%, s/c hge 33%, diplopia 13%, ptosis 12%, ophthalmoplegia 10%,hyphema 14%,retinal hemorrhage/edema 8%,optic disc edema/atrophy 9%, late cataract/atrophic bulbi 2%.Ocular complications managed medicaly/surgicaly along with medical,nephrology/haematology treatment for snake poison, . Detailed examination,early detection & treatment reduce the ocular moribidity of poisonous snake bite cases.