Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To assess epidemiologic changes and changes of risk factors of open globe injuries in a typical central European moderately industrialized country over the past 20 years. Methods: The records 1021 Patients with open globe injuries, who were primarily treated at the University of Freiburg between Jan 1, 1981 and Dec 31, 1999, could be sufficently analyzed. The following parameters were evaluated: age, extent of injury, sex, cause. and activity at the time of injury. Results: After correction for the demographic distribution the risk for open globe injury was highest for young adults and lowest for seniors. In the recent years risk for severe eye injury is more equally distributed and is increasing for old people. We noted decreasing injuries at work and during traffic accidents, especially for young female front seat passengers. On the other hand, we observed an increasing amount of domestic eye injuries related to hobby activities. With increasing age we noted more posterior segment injuries. 9% of all open globe injuries occured among seniors (>65 years old), but 41% of all ruptures occured in this age group. Preceeding Cataract surgery was identified as a risk factor. 38% of injured persons in this age group already had intraocular surgery. After introduction of small incision techniques in the beginning 90ies the frequency of globe ruptures began to decrease again. 3,6 % of the injured eyes developed an endophthalmitis, in agricultural injuries the rate of endophthalmitis was 12%. Conclusions: There is a relative constant incidence of 3 open globe injuries per 100 000 pupulation. The circumstances of the injuries underwent major changes within the period that was observed. This had a major influence of the visual outcome of subgroups of injuries in spite of the progress of trauma surgery.
Keywords: trauma • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment