Epidemiological and social aspects of perforating eye injuries

The epidemiology of 387 consecutive perforating eye injuries (PEI) treated at the Helsinki University Eye Hospital in 1980-1986 was evaluated. Eighty-six percent of patients were males. The age group of 16-45 years predominated among males, 0-15 years among females. The mean age of all patients was 33.7 years. Forty percent of the male injuries were occupational, 38% domestic and 11% caused by assault. The corresponding figures for females were 9%, 53% and 23%, respectively. The occupation groups most often associated with accidents at work were construction (42%) and industry (30%). Five percent of all PEIs were caused by traffic accidents, and 3% were sports-related. After treatment 91% of the economically active patients were able to return to their pre-accident work, 4% had to change profession, and 5% became permanently disabled and unable to work.