Perforating eye injuries treated at Helsinki University Eye Hospital 1970 to 1977

A total of 477 perforating eye injuries (PEIs) were treated at Helsinki University Eye Hospital during the years 1970 to 1977. This study concerns perforations in children and those in adults during leisure time, the two categories representing 60% of all perforations. The results were compared with two previous series from this clinic from 1950 to 1959 and 1930 to 1939. The proportion of children was 27% of all perforations, a clear decrease from the 1950s (32%). The proportion of males was 78% both in children and in adults. Sharp objects were the most common cause of injury in children; explosions had diminished remarkably as compared with the 1950s and 1930s, there is a great increase in the number of assaults and road accidents. Prognosis was better for children than for adults. This reflects the better outcome of anterior segment injuries, which formed the majority of children's perforations, 71%, but only 48% of adult perforations.