Eye trauma is one of the serious public health problems worldwide and can cause blindness and ocular impairments. Introducing communities about eye trauma risk factors and severity and increasing their knowledge in case of exposure to such traumas can lead to preventing possible visual impairments. This is a large-scale epidemiological study held in north of Iran in recent years.
The results of our study indicate that the highest frequency of traumas occurred through the Young and Middle Ages, almost 28.8% of traumas occurred between 31–40 years. The mean age of patients was 41.5 ± 17.4 years which was higher in males than females and was consistent with the results of Shaeri et al (1). Al‑Mahrouqi, et al study also reported that the majority of traumas occurred in males with a mean age of 23 years. (8)A study by Pawaiya S Conducted in 2018-19 showed that 65% of the cases were male and 35% were female with a mean age of 35 years old and 48% <30 years old. (9) Another study conducted in Iran by N.Bazzazi et al, showed that the mean age of patients was 24.01 years old and the frequency of injury was higher in males (82.1%) than females (17.1%). (10) This could be explained by the fact that men have more high-risk jobs with outdoor activities and are more aggressive in their behaviors, especially in the north of Iran which makes them more susceptible to ocular traumas.
In the present study, 66.2% of patients presented within 12h due to the appropriate access to the medical center, in our study most of the patients lived in urban places. Results were consistent with Abbasi. M et al while Dr. Kalpana Singh et al and Syal et al reported that the majority of people presented within 24h.(11–13)
In this study summer (31.9%) was the most common season then fall (28.6%) and winter (17.9%) which was similar to Maurya, et al. M. Shaeri et al reported that the majority of traumas occurred at home (57.1%) similar to our findings while Wanpeng Wang et al, and other studies indicated that workplace was the most common location of accidents. (1, 7, 14)
Of the 476 patients, 225 (47.3%) had left eye involvement, 210(44.1%) had the right eye, and 41(8.6%) in both eyes. Pawaiya S et al reported 72 (43.6%) patients were affected in the right eye 84 (50.9%) in the left eye, and only nine patients had bilateral trauma. Wanpeng Wang also showed that (48.5%) of patients had trauma in their right eye and (49.4%) in the left eye, bilateral trauma was almost (2.1%).(9, 14)
Dr. Kalpana Singh et al, found that open and closed globe injuries were the most prevalent types of traumas at 48% and 49% respectively, Ekta Syal also reported that 60.5% of traumas were Closed globe injuries in consistent with our results in which conjunctiva foreign body was the common types of traumas at about 36.7%. Open globe injuries were at a very low percentage and no one with Closed globe injuries compare to other studies. Pawaiya, et al also reported closed globe injury as the maximum cases of trauma, this was due to the fact that protective eyewear is less common among people especially those working at home. (9, 12, 13)
To sum up, in this hospital based study, Closed globe injury was the most common types of injuries occurred between the age of 30–40 and male were most commonly susceptible. Most of the injuries are preventable which reflect the importance of using protective equipment and better awareness to lesson ocular traumas. It is also suggested to repeat the study periodically.