title: Biosocial profile of New Zealand prosthetic eye wearers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the biosocial profile of New Zealand (NZ) artificial eye wearers and establish a basis for future research and international comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study surveyed 431 NZ artificial eye wearers to investigate their ethnicity, gender, age, causes of eye loss, age of current prosthesis, ocular prosthetic maintenance regimes and the extent and severity of discharge associated with prosthesis wear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 3000 people wear artificial eyes in NZ. Accidents were the main cause of eye loss prior to 1990 and medical conditions have been the main cause since. In the 1960s, the ratio of men to women losing an eye from accidents was 5:1, but during the past decade the ratio was 1.4:1. Socket discharge occurred at least twice daily for one-third of the study group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately 1 in 1440 people wear artificial eyes in NZ. Decline of eye loss due to accidents is consistent with decreasing workplace and traffic accidents and may be due to improved medical management, workplace safety standards and safer roads. Mucoid discharge is prevalent in the anophthalmic population of NZ and an evidence based treatment protocol for discharge associated with prosthesis wear is needed. Research into this distressing condition is planned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Science, New Zealand National Eye Centre, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Keith R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Pine
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D017234:Eye Evisceration / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005137:Eye, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009093:Mucus; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D017751:Safety Management; D012737:Sex Factors; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace / Q000592:standards