title: Olive-harvesting eye injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the types of ocular trauma that occurs during the olive-harvesting season in a region of the Middle East.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ophthalmic assessments of all patients were performed by one ophthalmologist. Examinations included visual acuity, slit-lamp evaluation of the anterior segment, intraocular pressure measurement and posterior segment assessment after pupil dilatation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study cohort comprised 119 patients who presented for ocular injury due to olive harvesting. Seven patients (5.9%) had severe ocular trauma. Two of these patients presented with corneal perforation, and five with retinal edema. Six patients with severe ocular injury were male.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ocular injuries are common when olives were harvested manually or with sticks. A preventive program to reduce injury should consider environmental and cultural factors.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Center, Ziv, Zefad, Israel.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Yulish
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Pikkel
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D031658:Olea; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014792:Visual Acuity