[A clinical and epidemiological profile of ocular emergencies in a reference emergency center].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate epidemiological aspects of eye injuries in a reference emergency center.


METHODS
The study had two surveys: in the first (A) victims of ocular trauma where 1,483 patients admitted along 2003 had their epidemiological data analyzed and the second (B), where 133 patients had clinical aspects and risk and protective factors analyzed by a standard questionnaire between May and June 2004.


RESULTS
In survey A, most patients were males (1,314 or 89%). Ocular surface foreign body was the most frequent occurrence with 863 (58%) cases. In survey B it was shown that ocular protection was used only by 17% (22) patients. The accidents occurred more frequently at the workplace 70% (93), followed by the home (22%). In survey B, 34% of the patients had previous accidents.


CONCLUSIONS
The profile of patients victims of ocular trauma shows that there is a higher frequency of males and accidents involving cornea foreign body. The use of protective glasses is incipient and recurrence of this lesion is considerable. A preventive and educational strategy among the population with special focus on workplaces and homes is necessary to reduce ocular trauma occurrence.
Cecchetti
Daniel Felipe Alves
DF
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Unidade de Emergência Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil.
Cecchetti
Sheila Andrade de Paula
SA
Nardy
Ana Carolina Tremeschini
AC
Carvalho
Samuel Correa
SC
Rodrigues
Maria de Lourdes Veronese
Mde L
Rocha
Eduardo Melani
EM
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000453:epidemiology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult