Severe open-globe eye injuries: socio-demographic aspects and risk factors

Edita Puodžiuvienė, Alvydas Paunksnis

Department of Eye Diseases, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania

Key words: eye trauma; ocular injury; open-globe ocular injury; risk factors.

Summary. The aim of study. To evaluate sociodemographic aspects and risk factors of severe open-globe ocular injuries.

Material and methods. We present data from prospective study of 315 patients with severe open-globe ocular injuries, meeting inclusion criteria.

Results. The patients in our series were predominantly male (92.70%). The male to female ratio was 12.7:1. Almost 27% of the patients were from the age group of 30–39 years. Home (53.65%), streets and highways (19.05%) were the most common place of injury, followed by industrial premises (11.11%), agricultural activities (8.25%), recreation and sports (5.40%); 15.56% of cases were work-related. Sharp objects (43.17%) and hammering on metal (24.44%) were the two major causes of injury. Alcohol intoxication was observed in 13.65% of cases. Severe open-globe eye injuries were classified into four categories: penetrating injuries (56.83%), perforating injuries (2.54%), globe ruptures (12.38 %), and IOFB injuries (28.25%). Males suffered significantly more often than females in the age of 20–29 (OR=1.39±95% CI 1.10–1.75, P<0.01) and 30–39-year (OR=1.75±95% PI 1.45–2.22, P<0.01). Risk factors of severe open-globe eye injuries for male gender were living in urban setting (P=0.001), alcohol use (P=0.001), occupation – unemployed (P=0.001) and retired persons (P=0.011).

Conclusions. Risk factors for male gender to sustain severe open-globe eye injury were living in urban setting, alcohol use, and occupation (unemployed and retired persons).

Correspondence to E. Puodžiuvienė, Department of Eye Diseases, Kaunas University of Medicine, Eivenių 2, 50009 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: dalpuo@medi.lt

Received 28 May 2007, accepted 9 August 2007