Needlestick injuries in ophthalmology.

Because serious nosocomial diseases can be transmitted by needlestick injuries, a retrospective review of needlestick injuries was conducted for a period of 2.5 years at a major university teaching hospital. The objective was to determine the needlestick injury rate among employees of the Department of Ophthalmology versus the other departments. Ophthalmologists had the highest incidence per person of needle injuries among physicians. Retina and strabismus surgeons were at higher risk than anterior segment surgeons.