[A clinical and epidemiological profile of ocular emergencies in a reference emergency center]

To evaluate epidemiological aspects of eye injuries in a reference emergency center.

The study had two surveys: in the first (A) victims of ocular trauma where 1,483 patients admitted along 2003 had their epidemiological data analyzed and the second (B), where 133 patients had clinical aspects and risk and protective factors analyzed by a standard questionnaire between May and June 2004.

In survey A, most patients were males (1,314 or 89%). Ocular surface foreign body was the most frequent occurrence with 863 (58%) cases. In survey B it was shown that ocular protection was used only by 17% (22) patients. The accidents occurred more frequently at the workplace 70% (93), followed by the home (22%). In survey B, 34% of the patients had previous accidents.

The profile of patients victims of ocular trauma shows that there is a higher frequency of males and accidents involving cornea foreign body. The use of protective glasses is incipient and recurrence of this lesion is considerable. A preventive and educational strategy among the population with special focus on workplaces and homes is necessary to reduce ocular trauma occurrence.