Ocular Traumas among Artisans Received at the University Teaching Hospital in the Suru-Lere Zone of Cotonou, Benin

Abstract

Introduction: Authors investigated the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of ocular traumas among artisans received at the Suru-Lere University Teaching Hospital (CHUZ-SL) in Cotonou, Benin. Method: A retrospective study was conducted over a 5-year period at the Suru-Léré University Teaching Hospital by exhaustive recruitment of 715 patients consulting for ocular trauma during the period. Included in the study were the records of artisan patients received for ocular trauma during their activities. Results: In total, 89 cases of ocular traumas among artisans were collected, representing a frequency of 12.45%. The mean age of the patients was 30.60 ± 10.47 years. Male artisans were the most numerous (97.8%) with a sex ratio of 43.5. The most exposed professions were welders, accounting for 36%, followed by carpenters at 15.7%. The average consultation delay was from 24 hours to one week (61.8%). The right eye was the most affected, accounting for 51.7%. In the majority of cases, it was a trauma due to the projection of a superficial foreign body (84.30%). Predominant initial lesions were bulbar hyperemia (53.93%) and corneal ulcer (34.5%). Most patients underwent medical and surgical treatment (62.9%). Sequelae included corneal opacities (75.4%). Conclusion: Ocular traumas among artisans are quite frequent and can be prevented by the use of personal protective equipment.