ABSTRACT
AIM: To review the characteristics, complications, and epidemiology of perforating eye injury treated at a referral eye centre in Tehran, over one year, ·METHODS: The medical records of 959 patients hospitalized in Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran, due to ocular trauma in 2002 were studied. Information recorded included demographic information (age, sex, and occupation), offending agent, type of trauma, initial visual acuity, location where trauma occurred, accompanying signs and symptoms, and types of treatment provided. ·RESULTS: Mean age of patients was (22.6±16.4) years with a peak age of 21-25 years in males and under 5 years in females. The ratio of male to female was 4.2:1.62.4% of patients had penetrating trauma, 33.9% had blunt trauma, and 3.7% had mixed or chemical trauma. Metallic agents were the most common cause of penetrating ocular trauma, while stone was the most common blunt counterpart. Foreign bodies were observed in 23.4% of cases. Cornea was the most com-mon site of rupture (46.7%). ·CONCLUSION: Based on this study, penetrating trauma is more common than blunt trauma. Younger individuals are more prone to ocular trauma. Cornea is the most common site of injury.