[Chemical and thermal eye burns in the residential area of RWTH Aachen. Analysis of accidents in 1 year using a new automated documentation of findings].
BACKGROUND
Until now there were no statistical data on the incidence and the prevalence of eye burns. Therefore we studied all patients coming to our hospital from the area of Aachen with eye burns during the time from September 1990 until August 1991.


METHODS
All patients underwent a standardized examination including special history of the burning agent, industrial medical aspects and the employers liability insurance association. The documentation of the anterior eye segment pathology was scored separately for each eye encoded by location and special items. This documentation was worked up by the aid of a database (Filemaker II). 171 patients with eye burns were documented during one year. 65 patients had both eyes burned resulting in 236 documented records.


RESULTS
The 171 accidents can be divided in 104 (61%) industrial accidents and 64 (37%) housework accidents. 3 accidents were of unknown origin. Classification of burns was scored according to Reim 1991. 208 (88%) eyes showed score I burns, 27 (11.5%) score II and only one patient showed a score III eye burn. We saw 121 (70%) male patients, 39 (23%) female patients and 11 children (7%). The main age group ranged from 16-45 years. 28% (n = 30) of all accidents happened in machine factories, which have thereby in our study the highest incidence of industrial accidents.


CONCLUSIONS
By means of a one-year statistic we found that over 60% of all eye burns were industrial accidents, 28 in machine factories and 20% in service industries. 37% houseworks accidents are very difficult to prevent because of a deficit of safety rules.
Kuckelkorn
R
R
Univ. Augenklinik Aachen.
Luft
I
I
Kottek
A A
AA
Schrage
N F
NF
Makropoulos
W
W
Reim
M
M
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D012984:Software