title: Low vision rehabilitation and ocular problems among industrial workers in a developing country.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Work-related ocular injuries and illnesses were among the major causes of job absenteeism. This study was conducted to determine if low vision rehabilitation was provided following work-related ocular problems among industrial workers in a developing country. This was a retrospective analysis of case records.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomly selected records of all employees from the Social Security Organization (SOCSO) Medical Board for 2004 who suffered from ocular injuries and illnesses were selected. Rates of ocular injuries and illnesses according to age, gender, races, types of injuries, types of industries, visual rehabilitation and types of medical interventions were tabulated and analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 26 cases of ocular injuries and illnesses were identified where 46.2% suffered from ocular injuries. The remaining 53.8% had ocular and/or systemic diseases. The 40-49-yearold age group suffered the greatest number of injuries (26.92%). Ocular perforating injuries (66.67%) and ocular contusions (33.33%) were the most common types of ocular injury among industrial workers in Kuala Lumpur. Most injuries occurred among workers in the service industry (50%). Almost 60% of these injured workers did not receive any low vision rehabilitation after medical intervention while 25% were given contact lenses or spectacles as rehabilitation and remaining had surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low vision rehabilitation is still unexplored in the management of ocular injuries and illnesses among industrial workers. Introducing low vision rehabilitation can benefit both workers and employers as it provides care beyond spectacles or contact lens prescriptions.
authors.affiliation: Rokiah Omar BOptom, PhD Optometry & Vision Sciences Programme, Schol of Healthcare Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Email: nik_ina68@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.affiliation: Victor Feizal Knight MBBS, MHP Faculty of Medicine and Health Defence, National Defence University, Kem Sg Besi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: V F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: NMohammed MBBS (UM), LFOM (Ireland), C.I.M.W (ABIME USA), FFOM (Ireland), MBA (OXEL) Social Security Organisations (SOCSO), Menara PERKESO, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aziz Mohammed
keywords: Ocular injury; industrial workers; low vision rehabilitation; ocular illness; visual impairment