title: Pattern of open eye injuries in northwest Turkey: a retrospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to review the epidemiology and visual outcome of patients with open globe injuries in the northwest part of Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients admitted to the Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine with open globe injuries between 2004-2008 were reviewed retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-five eyes of 95 patients, aged between 3 and 79 years, were reviewed. The type of open eye injury was laceration in 76 eyes (80%) and rupture in 19 eyes (20%). In all age groups, projectile objects were the most common cause of injury. In patients 18 years and older, sharp objects (11.1%) were the least prevalent cause of open globe injuries; however, traumas with sharp objects were common in patients younger than 18 years (38.1%) (p=0.01). In patients younger than 18 years, most injuries occurred at home (68.3%), while in patients 18 years and older, the majority of ocular traumas occurred at work (59.2%) (p=0.000). Isolated Zone I lesions showed more improvement in visual acuity than other zones (p=0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open globe injury in northwest Turkey varied with age and gender. Education and safety precautions are essential to prevent open eye injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey. leventaltintas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Altıntaş
authors.forename: Ozgül
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Altıntaş
authors.forename: Nurşen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: Dilara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pirhan
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cağlar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology