title: Characteristics of open globe injuries in geriatric patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to evaluate the etiological and demographic characteristics of open globe injuries in geriatric patients, to determine the factors affecting the prognosis and to discuss the differences between geriatric and young populations in light of the current literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical files of 30 patients aged 65 years and older who were treated and followed up for open globe injuries between 1998 and 2009 were evaluated retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 73.1 years. Sixty percent of the patients were male, with a predominance of left eye involvement. The most common type of trauma was rupture due to a blunt object. The presenting visual acuity was no light perception in 13 patients, light perception/hand movement in 15 patients and 1/200-19/200 in 2 patients. In a univariate analysis assessing the effects of demographic and clinical characteristics on final vision, the wound location, type of trauma and Ocular Trauma Score were found to be statistically significant variations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis of open globe injuries is very poor in geriatric patients. Age-related structural changes and previous history of surgeries contribute to easy development of a rupture. During the treatment process, limited recovery capacity, ocular pathology in patients and low functional capacity in this age group exert negative effects on the prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Süleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tök
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Yalçın Tök
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Özkaya
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eraslan
authors.forename: Yonca
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sönmez
authors.forename: Firdevs
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Örnek
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bardak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015807:Eye Injuries, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology