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Occupational Medicine Advance Access originally published online on January 7, 2009
Occupational Medicine 2009 59(2):123-125; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqn168
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Short Reports

Occupational eye injuries: a continuing problem

G. J. Thompson1 and S. P. Mollan2

1 Accident and Emergency Department, Wishaw General Hospital, 50 Netherton Street, Wishaw, ML2 0DP, UK
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading RG1 5AN, UK

Background Ocular trauma is a worldwide cause of visual morbidity, a significant proportion of which occurs in the workplace. This is largely preventable with the use of protective eyewear and strict compliance.

Aim To analyse the type of occupational eye injuries that occur and to document the use of eye protection in patients presenting to a UK district general hospital.

Methods A pilot retrospective case note analysis of all ocular injuries seen in one calendar month was performed. A prospective survey of consecutive occupational ocular injuries presenting to this district general accident and emergency (A&E) department over a 2-month period was then carried out. Demographics, aetiology, eye protection usage and clinical details were recorded and analysed.

Results Of all eye patients attending this A&E, 31% (87/283) were due to occupational eye injuries. Of 55 prospectively reviewed patients with occupational eye injuries, the majority had minor injuries. Of the cases where eye protection was recorded, 56% (18/32) were not wearing any protection and 44% (14/32) wore eye protection at the time of injury.

Conclusions Occupational eye injuries are a commonly seen ocular complaint in the A&E department. Provision of appropriate eyewear protection and worker education is required to minimize the incidence of ocular injury in the workplace.

Keywords      Eyes; eye injuries occupation; occupational injury; trauma

Correspondence to: S. P. Mollan, Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, Reading RG1 5AN, UK. Tel: +44 118 322 5111; fax: +44 1491 614026; e-mail: soozmollan{at}doctors.org.uk


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