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

ABSTRACT

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.