Aetiology of non penetrating corneal injuries

Background Non-penetrating injuries of the cornea are frequent. Complicatio ns like corneal infiltrations, or corneal ulcera, may follow. Material and methods This prospective study included 144 patients with non- penetrating corneal injuries. Records contained epidemiological data, field of activity, profession, cause of the injury, and stress during the trauma . Results 97% of the patients were men, 78% of the injuries occurred during w orking hours, 41% of the patients were from metal working professions. 73% of the accidents happened with grinding machines and drilling machines. Onl y 6.9% of patients weared adequate glasses. The cause of trauma was deflect ion and working without glasses. In 32% of patients stress played a role in the cause of injuries. Conclusions Most of the corneal, non penetrating injuries happened during t he working hours by deflection, and by neglecting safety glasses. With the use of safety glasses the number of corneal non-penetrating injuries could definitely be reduced.