Social and medical aspects of unilateral traumatic aphakia

Twenty-one males between 16 and 50 years of age were admitted during a five year period and treated for a corneal perforation and traumatic cataract. One did not attend the follow-up examination. Five patients were not offered contact lens owing either to their occupation or to bad visual acuity. Twelve patients were offered contact lens, but only four patients made permanent use of them and have good binocular function. Three patients were given an intraocular lens, two of these with good results. Many of the patients had considerable problems at work, and there appears to be a certain amount of relationship between the length of the sick leave and their later employment. Half of the patients had to change their occupation either totally or partly. Social security and social problems are discussed.