The global impact of eye injuries

Abstract

Using data compiled from the ophthalmic literature and WHO's Blindness Data Bank, the available information on eye injuries from an epidemiological and public health perspective has been extensively reviewed. This collection of data has allowed an analysis of risk factors, incidence, prevalence, and impact of eye injuries in terms of visual outcome. However, most of the estimates are based on information from More Developed Countries (MDCs). The severity of eye injuries can be assessed through proxy indicators such as: (i) potentially blinding bilateral injuries; (ii) open-globe injuries; (iii) endophthalmitis; (iv) enucleation or (v) defined visual impairment. Major risk factors for ocular injuries include age, gender, socioeconomic status and lifestyle. The site where the injury occurs is also related to a risk situation. Available information indicates a very significant impact of eye injuries in terms of medical care, needs for vocational rehabilitation and great socioeconomic costs. The global pattern of eye injuries and their consequences emerging from the present review, undertaken for planning purposes in the WHO Programme for the Prevention of Blindness, suggests that: some 55 million eye injuries restricting activities more than one day occur each year; 750,000 cases will require hospitalization each year, including some 200,000 open-globe injuries; there are approximately 1.6 million blind from injuries, an additional 2.3 million people with bilateral low vision from this cause, and almost 19 million with unilateral blindness or low vision. Further epidemiological studies are needed to permit more accurate planning of prevention and management measures; a standardized international template for reporting on eye injuries might be useful to this effect, along the lines of the reporting occurring through the US Eye Injury Registry.

Loss of visual acuity due to eye injuries among 6292 school children in the Sultanate of Oman

“…Trauma is said to occur more frequently (Négrel & Thylefors 1998). The Omani girls seem to be just as ''wild'' as the boys are.…”

“…Monocular loss of vision does not generally impair the children's behavior or development; this excludes them from studies mapping causes of blindness and low vision. Négrel and Thylefors (1998) made a global estimate after a major review of the global impact of eye injuries. There are approximately 1.6 million cases of blindness, 2.3 million cases of low vision and 19 million cases of monocular blindness due to eye injuries.…”

The injured eye

“…Unlike in peacetime where unilateral injuries are the rule, ocular war injuries are bilateral in 15-25% of cases [1,2]. Eye injuries come at a high cost to society and are largely avoidable [3].…”

The value of corneal transplantation in reducing blindness

“…In 1992, Thylefors drew attention to the fact that trauma is often the most important cause of unilateral loss of vision in developing countries. 30,31 They estimated that approximately 1.6 million people are blind from injuries, 2.3 million had bilateral low vision, and 19 million are unilateral blind or had low vision. Corneal ulceration has been recognized as a silent epidemic in developing countries.…”