Epidemiology of ocular trauma among the elderly in a developing country.
OBJECTIVE
To study the epidemiology of ocular trauma among the elderly in a developing country.


METHODS
This is a multi-center retrospective clinical study of patients aged 65 years and above managed for ocular trauma between 2001 and 2007 at 4 hospitals in southwestern Nigeria. Age, sex, occupation, residential address, location at time of injury, activity preceding injury, agent of injury, treatment modalities offered and presenting visual acuity were recorded in a predesigned form. Type of injury was classified according to Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology. Data were recorded and analyzed with descriptive statistics and Chi square using SPSS 11 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) and statistical significance accepted at P < 0.05.


RESULTS
78 patients with overall mean age of 70.1 ± 5.5 years and male to female ratio of 1.9: 1 (P=0.007) were studied. Mean age for males was 70.0 ± 5.4 years and 70.1 ± 5.7 years for females. Eye injury occurred most commonly on the farm (37.2%), during farm related activities (35.9%) with sticks/twigs (41.1%) being commonest agent of ocular trauma among the elderly. However, injury occurred most frequently at home (51.9%) and during a fight/dispute (25.9%) with inciting agents being most frequently (33.3%) home related in elderly females. Eye injury was mainly of closed globe variety (85.9%); open globe injury was associated with higher incidence of hospitalization (P < 0.0001) and visual impairment (P=0.004) at presentation.


CONCLUSIONS
Although eye injury in elderly occurred more commonly on the farm during farm related activities, gender related differences are present with injury occurring more commonly in the home and during assaults/disputes.
Onakpoya
Oluwatoyin Helen
OH
Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. uvtoyin@yahoo.com
Adeoye
Adenike
A
Adeoti
Caroline Olufunmilayo
CO
Ajite
Kayode
K
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution