Occupational Eye Injuries ; Are They Preventable ?

Introduction: Ocular trauma at workplace is a worldwide cause of visual morbidity. It could be prevented by compliance to proper protective eyewear and increasing awareness. Preventive strategies can be best developed by analyzing the patterns and epidemiology of injuries. This study was designed to evaluate patterns and epidemiology of occupational eye injuries with a view to developing preventive strategies. Material and Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study, 152 ocular trauma patients presenting to Accident and Emergency service of National Eye Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka were enrolled. Data was obtained via an interviewer administered questionnaire and was analyzed by SPSS version 17. Results: Majority of the participants were aged 18-28years (50.7%). Males (96.1 %) had the highest incidence of ocular injuries. Most of the patients were the sole breadwinner (84.2%) without life insurance (85.5%) or savings (62.5%) and are from low socioeconomic grounds (61.8%). The cornea (79.6%) was mostly affected; by superficial foreign bodies (62.5%) and by closed globe injury (99.3%).Greater number of ocular trauma was caused by physical means (75.7%) by sharp objects (67.8%). Majority of the participants 84.9% had not been using any eye protection at the time of injury. Protective eyewear was only provided at 44.7% of work places. Most of the patients attended the hospital 12-24 hours after (42.8%) ocular trauma. Out of the patients who presented to the hospital 77% were not given any first aid. Conclusion: Our results are comparable with those found in the literature. Promoting use of effective eye protection equipment and revision of the laws on occupational safety are some of the recommendations proposed to prevent occupational eye injuries. INTRODUCTION Consequences of occupational eye injuries are a cause of concern not only to the Ocular trauma at workplace is a worldwide cause of visual morbidity (1). I. Senior Lecturer, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Department of Anatomy, University of Colombo. 2. Research Assistant, Department of Anatomy, University of Colombo. 3. Senior Lecturer, Consultant Radiologist, Department of Anatomy, University of Sri Jayewardenepura


INTRODUCTION
Consequences of occupational eye injuries are a cause of concern not only to the Ocular trauma at workplace is a worldwide cause of visual morbidity (1).
I. Senior Lecturer, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Department of Anatomy, University of Colombo.

2 .
Research Assistant, Department of Anatomy, University of Colombo.3. Senior Lecturer, Consultant Radiologist, Department of Anatomy, University of Sri Jayewardenepura Journal (SLAJ).1(1): 16-19.2017.individual and the family but collectively will have an impact on the productivity and the economy of a country (2).Furthermore the incidence of work related eye injuries show an increase over the last few years in many developed countries (3).It could be prevented by compliance to proper protective eyewear and increasing awareness (4,5).Preventive strategies can be best developed by analyzing the patterns and epidemiology of injuries.This study was designed to evaluate patterns and epidemiology of occupational eye injuries with a view to developing preventive strategies in Sri Lanka.METHODOLOGY The study was an observational cross sectional study carried out at the Accident and Emergency Service of the National eye hospital Colombo, during August 2012.This study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and followed the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.Data of 152 patients presenting with a history of occupational eye injuries were obtained by Interviewer administered questionnaires and hospital records.Data was analyzed using SPSS 17.0 software.
Most of the patients (42.8%) presented to the hospital 12-24 hours after the incident, and 77% of them did not receive any first aid at the time of injury.Occupational eye mjunes indicated a considerable impact on the family economy as most of the patients were the sole breadwinner (84.2%)In low' socioeconomic back ground with a monthly income of less than twenty five thousand rupees a month.(61.8%).Majority of the patients were not possessing any form of life or medical insurance (85.5%) or savings (62.5%).CONCLUSIONS Our results are comparable with those found In the literature (6,7).The population who suffer the most is young males who are the work force of the country.Welding is the commonest occupation leading to eye injuries despite repeated involvement.Non skilled work increases the risk.Cornea is the structure affected most, mainly via physical means.Frequent repeated ocular injuries are common at work place and it has a considerable impact on the family economy as well as the productivity of the work site.Majority does not use any eye protection during work and greater proportion of work places do not provide eye protection, or facilities to wash eyes in such ocular injuries as first aid.are suggested with emphasis on the importance of early medical attention following ocular injury.Legislative implementations are recommended to prevent ocular Injuries including, mandatory use of protective eye wear at work place.Improving and maintaining standards and quality of eye protection wear is also important.To reduce the severity of ocular injuries first aid facilities should be readily available at close proximity to the work site to be utilized during an eye injury.
Out of the work places 44.7% did not provide protective eyewear and 89.5% did not provide facilities to wash eyes..:;c \-,'