Biedenkopf A., Auffarth G. U.

Univ.-Augenklinik Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120 Heidelberg

Background: Trauma is one of the main reason for monocular blindness. In this study we analysed the incidence and severity of ocular injuries in an urban population Methods: Of 4610 patients, which visited the emergency unit of the eyeclinic, patients with a contusio bulbi (481/4610=10.4%) were selected and analysed retrospectively.
Results: Men were significant more frequently involved into a ocular trauma then women (71.5% men, 28.5% women). The most frequent age of the patients in both sexes was between 25 and 34 years (121/481=25.2%). Severe ocular trauma was founded mostly in the age from 15 to 34 year old patients (47.6%). In 3.7% of the patients there were perforating injuries and ruptures. Violence was the reason in most of this cases (41.2%). This was the same reason by most of the fractures (36.4%), which were found by 18.3% of all patients. Blow-out-fracture was the most frequent fracture (60.2%). The 481 patients were divided into 8 different groups, which reflect the distribution of the population. The most frequent accidents happens at home (29.3%), at sports (17.9%), and thru violence (14.7%). Other groups were injury under alcoholic influence (13.1%), accidents at time leisure (10.8%), traffic accidents (6.8%), accidents at work (6.6%), and others (0.6%).
Conclusion: Frequency of ocular trauma in different parts of every day life point out, that more strategies for prevention are needed. In cases with influence of alcohol and violence we need a further investigation of the background of our society.

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