Perforating eye injuries in a western part of Sweden.
We performed a prospective study of all perforating eye injuries in a western part of Sweden during 1989-1991. We registered 140 cases (141 eyes) in a population of 1.4 million. Annual incidence was 3.3 per 100,000 inhabitants. Follow-up time was 6 months or more in 91 (64%) of the cases. Perforating eye injuries were 5.6 times more common in men than in women. Occupational injuries accounted for 37% of perforating eye injuries. Twenty-nine per cent of perforating eye injuries were injuries that occurred during domestic and leisure time. In addition to metal fragments, a whole nail was a common perforating object in these groups. Playing activity accounted for 11% of the perforating eye injuries, traffic accidents for 3% and assault for 9%. In a group of elderly patients (9%) perforating eye injuries were caused by falls. Visual acuity was 0.5 or better in 57 (63%) of the eyes with a follow-up period of at least 6 months. Only 2 of the 141 eyes were enucleated.
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity