Epidemiologic Characteristics of Work-related Eye Injuries and Risk Factors Associated with Severe Eye Injuries: A Registry-based Multicentre Study

Abstract

Purpose: Work-related eye injuries have been reported with a variety of epidemiologic and clinical characteristics. We aimed to identify epidemiologic characteristics of work-related eye injuries and risk factors associated with severe injury in a large metropolitan city.

Methods: This multicentre, retrospective, observational study used a prospective eye injury registry. We included patients with work-related eye injuries at four tertiary teaching hospitals in Daegu, South Korea, between August 2016 and July 2018. Severe injuries were defined as subjects fulfilled one or more of the following criteria: 1) presented with open globe injury; 2) required emergency eye surgery or observation after hospitalization; 3) developed eye injury-associated complications or 4) impaired final visual acuity.

Results: The study included 1,424 patients. One hundred seventy-three patients (12.1%) had severe injuries. The median age and interquartile range (IQR; 25th and 75th percentiles) of the subjects were 48.0 years (IQR, 36.0-57.0), and the majority (91.9%) were male. Among the subjects, 61 patients (4.2%) suffered eye injuries despite the use of protective eyewear at the time of injury. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed age ≥70 years (odds ratio: 4.02, 95% confidence interval: 1.77-9.15), hammering/nailing (6.80, 2.80-16.53), and mowing (4.87, 1.77-9.15) as activities that conferred a high risk of ocular trauma with severe injury.

Conclusion: Age over 70 years, hammering/nailing, and mowing were risk factors for severe injury from work-related ocular trauma. Severe eye injury could occur in spite of the use of protective eyewear; appropriate, well-fitting protective eyewear should be emphasized in the future.