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Corneal Abrasions CPI
Clinical scenario
Corneal abrasion is a very common eye injury. An abrasion is defined as a defect in the corneal surface superficial to the Bowman membrane and limited to the epithelial layers. Being the commonest eye injury the care of this condition reflects the care given to patients with any eye problem
Audit question
Is corneal abrasion managed appropriately according to best practice guidelines?
Method
Retrospective audit
Sample: 30-50 Emergency Department patient records
Criteria:
Inclusions: All patients above the age of 2 years presenting with corneal abrasions
Exclusions: Penetrating eye injury, patients with chronic eye disease
Audits
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1st December 2007
Results
| Date | Patients | Measured | Results | Standard | Regional avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01st December 2007 | Patients attending the ED with corneal abrasion | Management of the patients according to the criteria | All patients prescribed topical antibiotics | 100 % | 100 % |
| Evidence of fluroscein examination | 100 % | 98 % | |||
| All patients examined in both eyes for visual acuity | 100 % | 98 % | |||
| Appropriate pain relief offered | 100 % | 36 % |
Comments
Significant improvement in scores overall, with the majority now reaching target. However, pain relief remains an area of concern, as scores have declined further since the last audit.
Audit Bottom Line
Overall a good set of results, with the exception of pain relief which remians a poor performing area of patient care. However, it is questionable whether these results are representative of the region as a whole, as only one ED has submitted data on this occasion.