title: Frequency and characteristics of ocular trauma in an urban population.
abstract: All patients presenting with ocular trauma to the emergency room of a large inner-city hospital during a 2-month period were prospectively examined and interviewed. Of 3,627 trauma visits, ocular trauma accounted for 126 (3%). There were 514 trauma admissions; 26 (5%) of these were for ocular trauma. Bilateral injuries were encountered in 35 (27.6%) of the 126 patients. Patients in early adulthood (18 to 30 years) sustained the most eye injuries (36.9%) whereas elderly people had the fewest (1.6%). Males sustained ocular injuries more frequently than females (3.5:1) and blacks more frequently than Hispanics (2.4:1). Assault was predominantly the most common circumstance of injury (51.2%). Alcohol or drug use (26.7%) and belonging to a gang (6.2%) were other factors found to be uniquely related to ocular injury in this particular socioeconomic environment.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wooten
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011204:Poverty Areas; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*