title: Pattern of ocular injuries in owo, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pattern of ocular injuries in patients presenting to the eye clinic and the accident and emergency department of Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was conducted between January and December 2009. Federal Medical Center, Owo is the only tertiary hospital in Ondo State, Nigeria. The eye center located at this medical center was the only eye care facility in the community at the time of this study. All patients were interviewed with the aid of an interviewer-administered questionnaire and underwent a detailed ocular examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 132 patients included in the study, most (84.1%) sustained blunt eye injury while (12.1%) had penetrating eye injury. A considerable proportion of patients (37.9%) presented within 24 hours of injury. Vegetative materials were the most common (42.4%) offending agent, a minority of patients (22%) was admitted and none of the patients had used eye protection at the time of injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the current series, blunt eye injury was the most common type of ocular trauma. The community should be educated and informed about the importance of preventive measures including protective eye devices during high risk activities. Patients should be encouraged to present early following ocular injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Charles Oluwole
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Omolase
authors.forename: Ericson Oluseyi
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Omolade
authors.forename: Olakunle Tolulope
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Ogunleye
authors.forename: Bukola Olateju
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Omolase
authors.forename: Chidi Oliver
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Ihemedu
authors.forename: Olumuyiwa Adekunle
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Adeosun