Clinical profile of ocular injuries in a geographically isolated Colombian municipality

Abstract

ObjectiveTo characterize epidemiologically eye trauma in the municipality of Santa Rosa Del Sur, Bolívar, Colombia from June 2015 to May 2016. Methodology: A descriptive observational study of eye injuries was performed in patients recruited consecutively. Trauma characterization was performed following the international Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology System (BETTS) classification and incorporating ocular adnexa and burns. Injury causes, sociodemographic and clinical variables were included. ResultsThere were 146 people with eye trauma (149 eyes) during the calendar year. The incidence was 3.61 per 1000 inhabitants: 94% (136) were men, 50.34% (73) traumas in the right eye and three people with bilateral traumas. 71.72% of the injuries were occupational accidents, the highest frequency being among people between 25 and 34 years of age 45 people, (31.03%); 8 children were affected. Applying the BETTS classification, there were 98.67% (147) with closed globe injury. Of these cases, 87.07% (128) were lamellar lacerations and 12.93% (19) contusions. Two eyes with open globe injury. The most compromised structure was the cornea in 75.84% (113). ConclusionsThe data provide epidemiological characterization of eye injuries in a geographically isolated Colombian municipality. The male sex, informal work and lack of protective elements at work are factors more frequently seen in patients with eye injuries.