Jayashree Dora1, Sasmita Sahu2, Madhumita Naik3, Deepak Jyoti Mohanty4, Rupasri Sethi5
BACKGROUND
Occupational ocular injuries are very common in industrial and agricultural
workers. These are important and preventable causes of ocular morbidity.
Objective of the study was to profile occupational ocular trauma clinicoepidemiologically.
METHODS
A prospective study was done by collecting data from a standardised questionnaire
and complete ophthalmological examination of patients with occupational eye
trauma attending VSSIMSAR, Burla, between January 2019 and October 2020.
RESULTS
Out of 128 cases of work related injuries, males were 85 %. 48 % of the cases
were between 21 - 40 years. Out of all cases 66 % injuries were related to
industrial work followed by 29 % in agricultural sector and farming. 3 % of cases
were due to blast injury. Also there were 3 % cases of chemical conjunctivitis.
Most injuries were closed globe (85 %), mostly involving zone 1 (91 %). Open
globe injuries were 15 %, majority of them involved zone 2 (47 %). Ocular
superficial foreign bodies were the most common clinical entity (60 %), majority
of them being metallic in nature (37.5 %). In 4 % cases IOFBs were found. Cornea
was the most common ocular structure to get injured (69 %). Out of all cases, 50
% had ocular trauma score (OTS) of 4, and 4 % cases had OTS 2. 48 % of patients
presented within 6 hours of injury. 42 % patients were not aware of any eye
protective gear at work and 30 % patients were aware but did not use any eye
protection.
CONCLUSIONS
Eye trauma in workplace is an important public health concern in economically
productive population. Significant proportion of these injuries is avoidable by using
standardised eye protective devices. Attention need to be given for instruction,
enforcement of protective eye wear use, and frequent prevention campaigns.
