The epidemiology of blunt ocular trauma in a tertiary health care institution in Serbia – a four-year-long retrospective study

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Ocular trauma is a globally important cause of visual impairment. The aim of our study was to analyses demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics of blunt ocular trauma.

Methods The retrospective study enrolled patients with blunt ocular trauma, hospitalized at the Eye Clinic, University Clinical Centre of Serbia in Belgrade during a four-year period (2018–2022). Demographic characteristics, mechanism of injury, best corrected visual acuity on admission and discharge and injured eye structure were analyzed.

Results Out of 283 patients, the majority (n = 233, 82%) were men. People aged 61 and over (n = 82, 29%) were at greatest risk for blunt ocular trauma. Injuries from splitting wood (n = 78, 28%) and various blunt tools and objects (n = 70, 25%) were the most common mechanism in the entire study group, both in men and in women. Visual acuity on admission was better than 0.6 in 147 (52%) patients and at discharge in 185 (65%). The most common eye structure affected are pathological findings in anterior chamber (n = 160, 56%), which are mainly related to hyphemia.

Conclusion Present study showed that blunt ocular trauma affects all age groups, but most often elderly and children. Men are injured more often than women. Splitting wood and manipulating blunt tools and objects are activities with the highest risk of blunt ocular trauma.

Keywords: blunt trauma; Serbia; epidemiology; injury