Characteristics of eye injuries in urgently hospitalized adults in the Perm region

A retrospective analysis of 136 medical histories of patients with eye injuries who applied to the city and regional centers of emergency ophthalmological care and were hospitalized in two specialized ophthalmological departments during one calendar year was carried out. 89% of patients were men, 11% were women; 20% contacted hospitals in winter, 21% – in spring, 30% – in summer and 29% – in autumn. Out of 139 injured eyes, 50% were wounded, 40% were contused, 10% had burns. In cases of eye injuries, 7 (10%) were injuries of the appendages of the eye, 57 (81%) were penetrating injuries, 66% were corneal injuries, 25% – scleral injuries, 9% – corneal-scleral injuries, all of which were severe; 3%  – non-penetrating injuries of the cornea, 6%  – penetrating injuries of the orbit. Among 56 contused eyes, appendages of the eye were damaged in 4 (7%) eyes, all of them were of 2nd degree of severity. Eyeball damage was diagnosed in 35 (63%) eyes: 17 were of 2nd degree of severity, 15 – of 3rd degree of severity, 3 – of 4th degree of severity. Multisystem injuries of the eyeball and appendages of the eye were diagnosed in 17 (30%) eyes. Corneal, conjunctival and eyelid burns of the 2nd degree were diagnosed in 9 eyes, while burns of the 3rd degree were diagnosed in 4 eyes. All cases were chemical burns. 87% cases were civilian injuries, 11.5% were work injuries, while 1.5% were caused by criminal actions. In 2 eyes with non-penetrating corneal injuries, the visual acuity increased after discharge from hospital. Out of 57 eyes with penetrating injuries, the visual acuity increased in 34 eyes and decreased in 8 eyes; in 3 cases of visual acuity decrease, an ophthalmectomy was performed; in 15 eyes the visual acuity remained unchanged. In cases of contusion of the eyeball, out of 52 eyes the visual acuity increased in 39, decreased in 1 eye and remained unchanged in 12 eyes. In cases of burns, out of 13 eyes the visual acuity increased in 10 eyes and remained unchanged in 2 eyes. One patient underwent a blepharorrhaphy.

Conflict of interest: Gavrilova T.V. is the member of the editorial board of the journal and has been recused from review process and from making decision regarding acceptance of this article.

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