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Ocular sequelae of pneumatic drills
A M Mansour1, S H Uwaydat, A S Khouri
1Department of Ophthalmology, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Eye (London, England)
|February 7, 2001
Summary
Rock-drilling can cause eye damage, including corneal scars and vitreous liquefaction. Protective eyewear is essential for rock-drillers to prevent these vision-impairing occupational hazards.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Rock-drilling is an occupation with potential risks to eye health.
- Understanding the specific ocular sequelae is crucial for prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ocular side effects in rock-drillers.
- To identify the prevalence of specific eye conditions in this occupational group.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study comparing 19 rock-drillers with 20 age-, sex-, and race-matched controls.
- Comprehensive ocular examinations were performed on all participants.
Main Results:
- Subepithelial corneal opacities were observed in 63% of drillers.
- Pigmented trabecular meshwork was found in 68% of drillers, compared to 5% of controls.
- Vitreous liquefaction was present in 100% of examined drillers versus 45% of controls.
Conclusions:
- Rock-drilling leads to corneal scarring and vibration-induced pigment deposition in the trabecular meshwork.
- Vitreous liquefaction is a common finding in rock-drillers.
- The use of safety glasses is strongly recommended to mitigate these ocular risks.
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