INCIDENCE OF CASES SF OCULAR TRAUMA ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL AND INCIDENCE OF BLINDING OUTCOME

Aims-To provide epidemiological data on the current burden of serious eye injuries utilising the hospital eye service, to inform the plannin g and provision of eye health care, and health and safety strategies f or the prevention of ocular injuries. Methods-A prospective observatio nal study was carried out of all patients with ocular trauma admitted to hospitals in Scotland, under the care of a consultant ophthalmologi st, during a 1 year period. The population of Scotland represented the population at risk of injury. Visual outcome (Snellen visual acuity i n the injured eye) was measured at the time of final discharge from op hthalmic care and at follow up. Results-All ophthalmic departments in Scotland participated and a total of 415 residents of Scotland were ad mitted. The 1 year cumulative incidence of ocular trauma necessitating admission to hospital is estimated to be 8.14 per 100 000 population (95% CI 7.38 to 8.97). Some 13.2% (n=26/197) of patients discharged fr om follow up had a poor visual outcome with a visual acuity less than 6/12 in the injured eye. Some 10.7% (21/197) patients at this time had a blinding outcome in the injured eye (visual acuity less than 6/60). No patient was registered blind or partially sighted during the study period. The home was the single most frequent place for blinding inju ries to occur (52%, n=11/21), followed by the workplace 24% (n=5/21). The 1 year cumulative incidence of blinding outcome from serious ocula r trauma is estimated to be 0.41 per 100 000 population per year (95% CI 0.26 to 0.64). Conclusions-The current burden of serious ocular tra uma presenting to the hospital eye service has been quantified from th is population based study, and for the first time, a direct estimate o f the incidence of the subsequent blinding outcome from these injuries has been provided. Ocular trauma remains an important cause of avoida ble and, predominantly, monocular visual morbidity (visual impairment and blindness), with over half of the blinding injuries now occurring in the home. Health education and safety strategies should now conside r targeting the home for the prevention of serious eye injuries in add ition to the traditional work, sports, and leisure environments and th eir related activities.