Ocular injuries from violence treated at an inner-city hospital

A computerized data base identified 277 patients with violence-related ocular injuries seen during 16 months in an inner-city hospital. They constituted 35% of all patients with ocular injuries during the study period. Their demographics and ocular findings were analyzed. One hundred sixty-seven patients (60%) were black males, 60 (22%) were white males, and 50 (18%) were females (mean age, 29 years). The orbit was injured in 125, the retina/choroid and vitreous in 79, and the optic nerve in ten. Seventeen had penetrating ocular injuries. Nineteen eyes (7%) lost light perception. One hundred forty-six (53%) patients had associated non-ocular injuries, mostly facial fractures. Bludgeons and guns were the weapons most commonly used; theft was the most common motive; drugs and alcohol were prominent in 35 cases. One hundred thirty-three (48%) patients were hospitalized for a mean of 5.5 days and an approximate cost of $975,089.

the human suffering and economic impact of violence-related ocular injuries are significant.