Work-related eye injuries

Twenty-one patients admitted between 1977 and 1982 to the Medical College of Virginia were studied retrospectively for work-related eye injuries. This group comprised 7.7% of all eye-injury admissions. Patients suffered both blunt and penetrating injuries; penetrating injuries had poorer prognoses. Twenty of the 21 patients had not worn protective eyewear. The average per-patient cost related to ocular injury was $2946, and the average hospital stay was 6.4 days. In contrast, the one patient who had worn protective eyewear had ocular-related costs and hospitalization of only $350 and a one-day stay. Protective eyewear is important in lessening the severity of injury as well as decreasing the financial and psychologic burden to the patient, hospital, and employer.