The science from ocular war injuries

Abstract

AbstractApproximately 10% of war injuries with major trauma have eye injuries. Primary ocular blast injuries are from the transfer of kinetic energy from the explosive blast wave alone. Secondary ocular blast injuries are the most common type of blast injury (42%) from the impact of shrapnel from the explosive device itself or from exogenous debris propelled by the explosion. Tertiary ocular blast injuries (1%) are caused by indirect damage to the eye when an individual is thrown by the blast wind. Quaternary blast injures (3%) are from any other mechanism related to the blast, usually thermal burns. Quinary blast injuries are a new entity that describes a hyperinflammatory state occurring after an explosion that is thought to cause retinal vascular occlusion. IOFB injuries are given prophylactic systemic antibiotics to protect against endophthalmitis, before surgical removal. Combat eye protection (CEP) significantly reduces secondary and tertiary blast injuries, but increased the proportion with commotio retinae. We rehabilitate blind patients with the BrainPort (Wicab, USA) vision device that substitutes the sense of sight with electrotactile stimulation of the tongue and improves navigation and object recognition