title: Aetiology of perforating eye injury.
abstract: This study addresses the aetiology of perforating ocular injury in childhood and possible preventive measures. Data have been collected from the case notes of 143 patients presenting over a 10 year period to a single ophthalmic unit. Injuries occurred most often in a domestic setting (34%) or with a child at play (19%) and showed an overall four to one ratio of boys to girls. Sports injuries accounted for 15% and assault for 8% of all injuries. A changing pattern of ocular injury is evident: road traffic accidents constituted 6% of injuries, compared with 31% in a similar study published in 1976. The role of litigation is discussed, particularly with regard to firearms, which accounted for 8% of injuries. It is concluded that the most important factor in the prevention of perforating ocular trauma is parental awareness, 53% of injuries occurring with the child in a domestic setting or at play.
authors.affiliation: Southampton Eye Hospital.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Luff
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hodgkins
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Morrell
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Calder
mesh_terms: D000056:Accident Prevention; D000061:Accidents, Home; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011998:Recreation; D012737:Sex Factors