Περίληψη:
PURPOSE. Ocular trauma is one of the main causes of visual reduction or
loss, particularly in the younger population.
METHODS. In this prospective study the authors included 67 consecutive
patients with ocular trauma secondary to motor vehicle accidents who
were hospitalized in the Athens University Eye Clinic from September
1993 to December 1996. The mean follow-up time was 31 months, the mean
age was 31.7 years, and the ratio between men and women was 2.7:1.
RESULTS. Thirty-two of the accidents (47.76%) took place in populated
areas. Among the 67 injured persons, 58 (86.56%) were car passengers, 8
(11.95%) were on motorcycles, and 1 (1.49%) was a pedestrian. Only 3
(5.2%) of the 58 persons injured inside automobiles used safety belts
and none of the motorcyclists used crash helmets during the accidents.
Fifty-three (79.1%) ocular traumas were penetrating in nature, with
glass fragments being the main cause in 36 of them (67.9%). Among the
53 injured persons experiencing penetrating ocular trauma, 49 had a
follow-up time of more than 6 months. Twenty of them (40.8%) underwent
one surgical procedure, 22 (44.9%) were submitted to two surgical
procedures, and the remaining 7 persons (14.3%) needed three or more
operations. Eighteen (36.7%) of the 49 patients with penetrating Ocular
trauma and with 6 months follow-up had a final visual acuity of less
than 1/20, 21 (42.9%) had a visual acuity of more than 5/10, and 3
(6.1%) underwent enucleation. Among the 67 patients, 61 had a follow-up
time of more than 6 months, regardless of their history of penetrating
ocular trauma. Eighteen of them (29.5%) had a final visual acuity of
less than 1/20, 8 (13.1%) had a visual acuity between 2/10 and 4/10,
and 22 (52.5%) had a visual acuity of more than 5/10.
CONCLUSIONS. Because motor vehicle accidents can cause severe ocular
trauma, it would be helpful for drivers to be more careful and aware of
motor vehicle regulations. There seems to be a great need of enforcement
of seatbelt laws in Greece. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2004; 14: 144-8)
Συγγραφείς:
Panagiotidis, DN
Theodossiadis, PG
Petsias, CB
Kyriaki, TE
and Marakis, TP
Friberg, TR
Moschos, MN
