title: Clinical analysis of firework-related ocular injuries during Spring Festival 2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To document the clinical features, management and visual outcome of fireworks-related ocular injuries during the Spring Festival.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of all patients with fireworks-related ocular injuries attending the Department of Ophthalmology in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 20 to February 10, 2009. Age, gender, laterality, type of fireworks, location of incident, initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), diagnosis, management, and final BCVA at last follow-up were documented. Relevant clinical features and visual outcome were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed 25 eyes in 24 patients. Injuries were more frequent in children (ten, 41.7%), males (19, 79.2%), and as open globe injury (15, 62.5%). The most common pyrotechnical products causing accidents were firecrackers (12, 50%). Rural residents had significantly higher rates of injury compared to urban residents (P = 0.023). Of 25 eyes, the most common injuries were corneal/scleral/corneoscleral open globe trauma (15, 60%), traumatic cataract (14, 56%), vitreous hemorrhage (seven, 28%) and retinal detachment (seven, 28%). Most eyes (23, 92%) received surgical intervention, including one (4%) eye enucleation. Vitrectomy was the most surgical treatment. After management, visual outcomes showed statistically significant improvement (P = 0.008). Initial BCVA correlated strongly with final BCVA (P = 0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fireworks-related ocular injuries occur mainly in children, males and rural settings, are frequently severe and visually devastating. Therefore, preventive measures should be strengthened, including public education and legal restriction on the sale and use of fireworks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Jie Fang Road # 238, Wuhan, 430072, China. xyj711@163.com
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yi-qiao
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan-ning
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: An-huai
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lian-hong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D053834:Explosive Agents; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053834:Explosive Agents