Traumatic hyphemas in children secondary to corporal punishment with a belt.

PURPOSE: To report the severity of ocular injury in seven children with traumatic hyphemas resulting from the accidental striking of the child in the face with a belt during the administration of corporal punishment.

DESIGN: Observational case series.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients (n = 7, aged 4 to 14 years) with traumatic hyphemas secondary to belt injuries evaluated by the senior author between 1989 to 2002 at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center, a regional pediatric referral hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

RESULTS: Anterior segment injuries ranged from small hyphemas with normal intraocular pressure and no vision loss to injuries with severe elevations of intraocular pressure and permanent, significant loss of vision.

CONCLUSIONS: Ocular injury to a child can result from trauma inflicted with a belt by a parent or caretaker during corporal punishment and may result in permanent loss of vision.