The Israeli ocular injuries study: incidence of legal blindness from ocular trauma

A 3 year nationwide study of the incidence of hospitalized civilian ocular injuries was conducted in Israel between October 1981 and September 1984. Of the 2,276 hospitalized cases (2,416 eyes), 457 resulted in unilateral, and 6 in bilateral legal blindness. These figures represent an average annual incidence rate of legal blindness of 3.8/100,000 persons, which was highest among 6-17 year olds (4.9/100,000). Injuries sustained in road accidents were the most highly morbid, resulting in blindness in 34% of road accident victims. Sports injuries accounted for 5% of all injured eyes and led to blindness in 10% of the cases so injured. Blindness resulting from injury occurs among people of all ages, often leads to a lifelong disfiguring disability, and increases the risk of bilateral blindness. It is widely maintained that with proper education and adoption of proper safety standards, such injuries can be largely prevented.