Changes in the Clinical Manifestations of Ocular Injuries Induced by Power Lawn Mowers

PURPOSE: To investigate changes in the clinical manifestations of ocular injuries induced by power lawn mowers. METHODS: In a retrospective study of 172 patients with ocular injuries induced by power lawn mowers in 2006, 2010, and 2014. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the time of presentation and 6 months after trauma, age, sex and seasonal distribution were analyzed. We assessed the degree of injury using slit lamp biomicroscopy, fundus examination, and computed tomography and analyzed the prognoses according to open/closed injury and, anterior/posterior segment injury. All patients underwent medical or surgical treatment, and the factors affecting final BCVA were analyzed. RESULTS: The ratio of closed injuries increased significantly (p = 0.027), as did the ratio of corneal erosion (p = 0.020), and, the ratio of corneal laceration decreased significantly (p = 0.014) over time. In the multivariate analysis, initial BCVA was the only risk factor of poor visual outcome in both open and closed injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of open globe injury has decreased over time. In contrast, the proportion of simple injuries such as corneal erosion has increased in ocular injuries induced by power lawn mowers. Lower initial visual acuity was the only risk factor of poor visual outcome in both open and closed injuries.

Clinical Analysis of Ocular Injuries induced by Power Lawn Mowers

The authors analysed 22 patients who were admitted to Gyeongsang National University Hospital because of ocular injuries induced by Power lawn mowers from March 1, 1991 to December 31, 1994. All of the patients were males. The average age of the patients was 43.3(range 15-69). Most injuries occured between June and September. Perforating injuries were developed in 8(36.4%) of 22 eyes and non-perforating injuries in 14(63.6%) eyes. The type of injuries were lens damage(10/22), vitreous hemorrhage(8/22), iridodialysis(4/22), intraocular foreign body(3/22), endophthalmitis(2/22), retinal detachment(1/22), and choroidal rupture(1/22). The prognosis was poor when the eyeball was perforated. Therefore safety goggles are absolutely needed for prevention of ocular injuries induced by Power lawn mowers.

Intraocular Foreign Bodies by Power Lawn Mowers

Power lawn mower is a useful equipment for landscape, but it can introduce a new eye trauma. These ocular injuries are recently increasing in Korea. To inform the possibility of visual loss, we reviewed medical records of 11 patients with intraocular foreign bodies by power lawn mowers. All of patients were men and lawn mower operators themselves. Nature of foreign bodies was metallic in 10 eyes(91%), Inlet was through the cornea in 10 eyes(91%), and intraocular location was at the vireo retina in 8 eyes(73%). At final follow-up, best corrected visual acuities were worse than counting fingers in 4 eyes(36%). Safety cover or halmet is needed for prevention of eye trauma caused by power lawn mower, however, more important, operators themselves should follow the ordinary safety rules.