Severe eye injuries in the war in Iraq, 2003-2005.
OBJECTIVE
To document the incidence and treatment of patients with severe ocular and ocular adnexal injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom.


METHODS
Retrospective hospital-based observational analysis of injuries.


METHODS
All coalition forces, enemy prisoners of war, and civilians with severe ocular and ocular adnexal injuries.


METHODS
The authors retrospectively examined severe ocular and ocular adnexal injuries that were treated by United States Army ophthalmologists during the war in Iraq from March 2003 through December 2005.


METHODS
Incidence, causes, and treatment of severe ocular and ocular adnexal injuries.


RESULTS
During the time data were gathered, 797 severe eye injuries were treated. The most common cause of the eye injuries was explosions with fragmentation injury. Among those injured, there were 438 open globe injuries, of which 49 were bilateral. A total of 116 eyes were removed (enucleation, evisceration, or exenteration), of which 6 patients required bilateral enucleation. Injuries to other body systems were common.


CONCLUSIONS
Severe eye injuries represent a significant form of trauma encountered in Operation Iraqi Freedom. These injuries were most commonly caused by explosion trauma.
Thach
Allen B
AB
Retina Consultants of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Johnson
Anthony J
AJ
Carroll
Robert B
RB
Huchun
Ava
A
Ainbinder
Darryl J
DJ
Stutzman
Richard D
RD
Blaydon
Sean M
SM
Demartelaere
Sheri L
SL
Mader
Thomas H
TH
Slade
Clifton S
CS
George
Roger K
RK
Ritchey
John P
JP
Barnes
Scott D
SD
Fannin
Lilia A
LA
D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005107:Explosions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D017234:Eye Evisceration; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000453:epidemiology; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005143:Eyelids / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009885:Ophthalmology; D009915:Orbit / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States