Eye injuries in Bahrain, retrospective study of cases admitted to hospital, 1988-1992

ABSTRACT

Eye injuries constitute an important cause of morbidity in Bahrain. A retrospective study was conducted to examine eye injuries that required hospital admission during 1988-1992. The objective of the study was to describe the profile of severe eye injuries requiring admission to the hospital. The total number of patients evaluated was 489, 90.4% of whom were males and 9.6% females. Children under 20 year of age constituted 41.3% of total cases, males accounting for 85.1% and females 14.9%. Thirty-eight% of all injuries were related to occupational exposure, particularly among industrial and construction workers; 14.6% of all cases resulted in blindness of severe visual impairment, while 28.6% of cases with ruptured globes had a similar outcome. Adequate preventive measures to minimize the risk of ocular injuries among the population at risk are warranted; these should address safety in the home, playground and work environment