L. Yanko et al., THE ISRAELI, OCULAR INJURIES STUDY - INCIDENCE OF LEGAL BLINDNESS FROM OCULAR TRAUMA, Israel journal of medical sciences, 31(7), 1995, pp. 423-428
A 3 year nationwide study of the incidence of hospitalized civilian oc
ular injuries was conducted in Israel between October 1981 and Septemb
er 1984. Of the 2,276 hospitalized cases (2,416 eyes), 457 resulted in
unilateral, and 6 in bilateral legal blindness. These figures represe
nt an average annual incidence rate of legal blindness of 3.8/100,000
persons, which was highest among 6-17 year olds (4.9/100,000). Injurie
s sustained in road accidents were the most highly morbid, resulting i
n blindness in 34% of road accident victims. Sports injuries accounted
for 5% of all injured eyes and led to blindness in 10% of the cases s
o injured. Blindness resulting from injury occurs among people of all
ages, often leads to a lifelong disfiguring disability, and increases
the risk of bilateral blindness. It is widely maintained that with pro
per education and adoption of proper safety standards, such injuries c
an be largely prevented.