A Clinical Study of Penetrating Ocular Injuries

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the epidemiological features of penetrating ocular injuries and to indentify factors influencing visual outcome we analyzed retrospectively 410 eyes of 402 patients who were treated at St. Mary's hospital from January 1, 1984 to December 31, 1994. Three hundred thirty four (83.1%) of the patients were male and the peak age was the third decade in both sexes. Little seasonal variation was noted. The accidents occurred more frequently at 4-5 p.m. and 10-12 p.m. and the peak time varied according to the type of accidents. Home accidents(27.4%) were the most common and traffic accidents(24.9%), industrial accidents(22.4%) came next. Two hundred fourteen (53.2%) were inflicted by sharp objects such as spectacles or glass. The cornea(63.1%) was the most common site of perforation and the laceration tended to occur at corneal conter, 6-10mm in length (37.5%). Conjunctival laceration(21.7%), lid laceration(33.2%) and the lens damage(31.5%)were accompanied. The most common surgical procedures was primary closure(83.2%), followedby lid repair and lens aspiration. Evisceration was performed in 54 eyes(13.2%), and the traffic accidents and blunt trauma were the main cause of the procedure. Final visual acuity was better in eyes with only corneal laceration than in eyes with scleral involvement.