[Etiology of non-penetrating corneal injuries]

Abstract

Background: Non-penetrating injuries of the cornea are frequent. Complications like corneal infiltrations, or corneal ulcera, may follow.

Material and methods: This prospective study included 144 patients with non-penetrating corneal injuries. Records contained epidemiological data, field of activity, profession, cause of the injury, and stress during the trauma.

Results: 97% of the patients were men, 78% of the injuries occurred during working hours, 41% of the patients were from metal working professions, 73% of the accidents happened with grinding machines and drilling machines. Only 6.9% of patients weared adequate glasses. The cause of trauma was deflection and working without glasses. In 32% of patients stress played a role in the cause of injuries.

Conclusions: Most of the corneal, non penetrating injuries happened during the working hours by deflection, and by neglecting safety glasses. With the use of safety glasses the number of corneal non-penetrating injuries could definitely be reduced.