[Motor vehicle accidents and eye injuries]

The medical records of 24,632 patients treated in our surgical emergency service over a 3-year period were reviewed to determine the frequency and characteristics of ocular trauma caused by motor vehicle accidents (MVA). MVA-related injuries accounted for 13.9% of all visits to the service and involved 1106 of the patients (33%), of whom 77% were young males. At least 1 pathological finding was found in 858 (77.6%) and 169 (15.2%) were admitted. 16 patients sustained very severe ocular injuries which resulted in poor vision.