[Etiology of non-penetrating corneal injuries].

BACKGROUND

Non-penetrating injuries of the cornea are frequent. Complications like corneal infiltrations, or corneal ulcera, may follow.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This prospective study included 144 patients with non-penetrating corneal injuries. Records contained epidemiological data, field of activity, profession, cause of the injury, and stress during the trauma.

RESULTS

97% of the patients were men, 78% of the injuries occurred during working hours, 41% of the patients were from metal working professions, 73% of the accidents happened with grinding machines and drilling machines. Only 6.9% of patients weared adequate glasses. The cause of trauma was deflection and working without glasses. In 32% of patients stress played a role in the cause of injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the corneal, non penetrating injuries happened during the working hours by deflection, and by neglecting safety glasses. With the use of safety glasses the number of corneal non-penetrating injuries could definitely be reduced.