Ocular traumas in working age adults in Finland – Helsinki Ocular Trauma Study

Purpose To describe epidemiology, causes, treatments and outcomes of ocular injuries in adults aged 17 to 60 in southern Finland. Methods All new ocular trauma patients admitted to the Helsinki University Eye Hospital (HUEH), during 1 year in 2011–2012. The data were from hospital records and prospectively from patient questionnaires. The follow‐up time was 3 months. Results The incidence for ocular injury was 88/100 000/year. From 831 trauma patients, 80% were men, 34% were work‐related injuries, and 11% were assaults. Most of the injuries were minor traumas (54%). Contusions (22.5%) and chemical injuries and burns (13%) were common. Fractures (5%), lid wounds (3%), open globe injuries (OGI, 2%) and optic nerve injuries (0.5%) were rare. The main causes of ocular injury were superficial foreign bodies (33%), chemicals (13%), body parts (13%) and sports equipment (10%). The most dangerous objects were needles, stones, pellet guns, tools and guns. No patient with OGI used protective eyewear. All OGI and most of contusions needed a lifelong follow‐up. Permanent impairment (73 patients, 9%) was caused most often by body parts, sports equipment and work tools. Conclusion A typical ocular trauma patient was a man aged 31–45 with a minor trauma caused by a foreign body at work and a final visual acuity of 20/20. Most common serious injuries were contusion, OGI or fracture at home or at work and were caused by a body part, sport equipment or work tool. Factors causing common and serious eye injuries provide the targets for protective measures.