Journal of Occupational
Health and Epidemiology
Rafsanjan university Of medical sciences
Volume 6, Issue 2 (Spring 2017)
J Occup Health Epidemiol 2017, 6(2): 77-83 |
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Taghavi Y, Soleimani M, Mokhtaree M, Taheri A. The prevalence of ocular diseases among individuals referring to the ocular emergency unit of Moradi Hospital of Rafsanjan, Iran: 2015. J Occup Health Epidemiol 2017; 6 (2) :77-83
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1- Dept. of Ophthalmology; Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
2- Dept. of Ophthalmology; Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. ,dr.solimani@rums.ac.ir
3- Social Determeinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
4- Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
2- Dept. of Ophthalmology; Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran. ,
3- Social Determeinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
4- Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.
Article history
Received: 2016/12/31
Accepted: 2017/06/14
ePublished: 2017/09/12
Accepted: 2017/06/14
ePublished: 2017/09/12
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Table 2: Frequency of orbital cellulitis, ocular foreign body, retinal artery occlusion, glaucoma, infection, and cases resulting in hospitalization based on age and gender
Table 3: Frequency distribution of different types of burns and injuries caused by welding based on age and gender
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Introduction
The eyes and their related diseases is one of the major topics in medicine and general practitioners and specialists will be faced with its related issues repeatedly during the course of their professional career. Emergency eye patients are an important group of clients of specialist and general emergency units. Some of these diseases are potentially sight-threatening and, in the absence of appropriate treatment, may leave lesions in the eye and will impose many social and economic damages. The majority of eye diseases are preventable and treatable through the correct treatment methods (1). Therefore, the evaluation of the prevalence of each of these diseases and disorders is necessary in order to make appropriate plans to allocate suitable educational facilities and required medical facilities (1).
Ocular emergencies include ocular trauma, infection, ocular foreign body (OFB), vascular issues, chemical and thermal burns, and impaired intraocular pressure (IOP) (2, 3). Ocular trauma is one of the common causes of unilateral blindness in children and adolescents and one of the important causes of reduced vision in adults. Statistics show that 1 out of every 20 individuals who refer to the ophthalmologist refer due to ocular trauma (2).
In thermal burns, usually, the eyelids are initially affected. Ultraviolet burns are mostly observed in welders, skiers, and those exposed to Ultar violet light bulbs. Chemical burns, especially with alkaline substances, are the most urgent optometry cases due to the rapid penetration of these materials into the eye tissue (4). Penetrating traumas are common emergencies which are accompanied by intraocular hemorrhage, corneal laceration, and globe rupture (5). Corneal laceration requires immediate treatment due to the risk of damage to the internal structures of the eye and infection (4). OFBs consist of particles of metal, glass, wood, stone, and other materials which can cause irreparable injury in surface and deep ocular structures (6). Sudden loss of vision is another optometry emergency which requires prompt referral to the ophthalmologist. An hour delay in referral may result in the complete and irreparable loss of vision (7). The most common symptom of retinal vein and artery occlusion is the sudden and painless loss of vision. If the loss of vision is due to central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), with the passage of 1 hour the individual’s vision is permanently lost (8).
In the study by Shoja, 77% of individuals referred to the ocular emergency unit due to ocular trauma and OFB, and of this amount, 43% was related to OFB (9). The prevalence of OFB in the studies by El-mekaway (3), Jana (10), and Katibeh (11) was 99.37%, 45.4%, 73.7%, respectively. The prevalence of corneal laceration in the studies by Eslami (12), Channa (2) was, respectively, 3.97% and 14%.
Different researches have been conducted in Iran regarding ocular emergencies, but the majority of them have studied ocular injuries.
Therefore, the present study was performed to determine the rate and type of injuries, diseases, and disorders identified as ocular emergencies. The analysis of the obtained data will provide researchers with an understanding of the current state so that they can make long term plans for the provision of effective solutions, and prevention and timely and speedy treatment of preventable emergencies through training the relevant personnel and medical interns. Moreover, such researches will provide authorities and employers with important information on occupational eye injuries; thus, they can reduce these injuries through systematic planning. Therefore, the results of this study can increase the awareness of families regarding eye injuries in children and adolescents and pave the way for their prevention.
Material and Methods
The study population of the present research consisted of all individuals referring to the ocular emergency unit of Moradi Hospital, Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2015 (n = 2035) who were selected through census method.
In the present study, medical review method was used. The names of eye patients were extracted from the hospital information system (HIS) and, using patient codes, their medical records were retrieved from the archives and their information was reviewed. A checklist designed to collect data was completed based on these findings. It must be noted that incomplete medical records were excluded from the study.
The study checklist consisted of demographic characteristics (such as age, gender, education, and residency area) and ocular injury characteristics (type of injury, the substance causing the injury, the duration of time between the occurrence of the injury and
referral, the treatment type performed in the emergency unit, the hospitalization or discharge status of the patient). Moreover, ocular infections were recorded in the checklist based on the clinical diagnosis recorded in the patients’ medical records. The collected data were entered into SPSS software (version 16, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and the results related to the quantitative and qualitative variables are reported as mean ± SD and number (%), respectively. In addition, chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to assess the relationship between the variable and the significance level was considered as 0.05 in the tests.
Results
In total, the medical records of 2035 patients with a mean age of 35.49 ± 13.67 years (in the range of 1-90 years) were evaluated. The mean duration of time between occurrence of injury and referral was 2.59 ± 2.11 hours, in the range of 1-35 hours. Among them, 1902 individuals (93.5%) were men, 1974 (97%) were Iranian, 1372 (76.4%) lived in the city, 1333 (65.5%) had a diploma, and 1698 (83.4%) had insurance. The highest number of referrals were in July-August (193 individuals, 9.5%) and the lowest number in September-October (142 individuals, 7%).
The eyes and their related diseases is one of the major topics in medicine and general practitioners and specialists will be faced with its related issues repeatedly during the course of their professional career. Emergency eye patients are an important group of clients of specialist and general emergency units. Some of these diseases are potentially sight-threatening and, in the absence of appropriate treatment, may leave lesions in the eye and will impose many social and economic damages. The majority of eye diseases are preventable and treatable through the correct treatment methods (1). Therefore, the evaluation of the prevalence of each of these diseases and disorders is necessary in order to make appropriate plans to allocate suitable educational facilities and required medical facilities (1).
Ocular emergencies include ocular trauma, infection, ocular foreign body (OFB), vascular issues, chemical and thermal burns, and impaired intraocular pressure (IOP) (2, 3). Ocular trauma is one of the common causes of unilateral blindness in children and adolescents and one of the important causes of reduced vision in adults. Statistics show that 1 out of every 20 individuals who refer to the ophthalmologist refer due to ocular trauma (2).
In thermal burns, usually, the eyelids are initially affected. Ultraviolet burns are mostly observed in welders, skiers, and those exposed to Ultar violet light bulbs. Chemical burns, especially with alkaline substances, are the most urgent optometry cases due to the rapid penetration of these materials into the eye tissue (4). Penetrating traumas are common emergencies which are accompanied by intraocular hemorrhage, corneal laceration, and globe rupture (5). Corneal laceration requires immediate treatment due to the risk of damage to the internal structures of the eye and infection (4). OFBs consist of particles of metal, glass, wood, stone, and other materials which can cause irreparable injury in surface and deep ocular structures (6). Sudden loss of vision is another optometry emergency which requires prompt referral to the ophthalmologist. An hour delay in referral may result in the complete and irreparable loss of vision (7). The most common symptom of retinal vein and artery occlusion is the sudden and painless loss of vision. If the loss of vision is due to central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), with the passage of 1 hour the individual’s vision is permanently lost (8).
In the study by Shoja, 77% of individuals referred to the ocular emergency unit due to ocular trauma and OFB, and of this amount, 43% was related to OFB (9). The prevalence of OFB in the studies by El-mekaway (3), Jana (10), and Katibeh (11) was 99.37%, 45.4%, 73.7%, respectively. The prevalence of corneal laceration in the studies by Eslami (12), Channa (2) was, respectively, 3.97% and 14%.
Different researches have been conducted in Iran regarding ocular emergencies, but the majority of them have studied ocular injuries.
Therefore, the present study was performed to determine the rate and type of injuries, diseases, and disorders identified as ocular emergencies. The analysis of the obtained data will provide researchers with an understanding of the current state so that they can make long term plans for the provision of effective solutions, and prevention and timely and speedy treatment of preventable emergencies through training the relevant personnel and medical interns. Moreover, such researches will provide authorities and employers with important information on occupational eye injuries; thus, they can reduce these injuries through systematic planning. Therefore, the results of this study can increase the awareness of families regarding eye injuries in children and adolescents and pave the way for their prevention.
Material and Methods
The study population of the present research consisted of all individuals referring to the ocular emergency unit of Moradi Hospital, Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2015 (n = 2035) who were selected through census method.
In the present study, medical review method was used. The names of eye patients were extracted from the hospital information system (HIS) and, using patient codes, their medical records were retrieved from the archives and their information was reviewed. A checklist designed to collect data was completed based on these findings. It must be noted that incomplete medical records were excluded from the study.
The study checklist consisted of demographic characteristics (such as age, gender, education, and residency area) and ocular injury characteristics (type of injury, the substance causing the injury, the duration of time between the occurrence of the injury and
referral, the treatment type performed in the emergency unit, the hospitalization or discharge status of the patient). Moreover, ocular infections were recorded in the checklist based on the clinical diagnosis recorded in the patients’ medical records. The collected data were entered into SPSS software (version 16, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and the results related to the quantitative and qualitative variables are reported as mean ± SD and number (%), respectively. In addition, chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to assess the relationship between the variable and the significance level was considered as 0.05 in the tests.
Results
In total, the medical records of 2035 patients with a mean age of 35.49 ± 13.67 years (in the range of 1-90 years) were evaluated. The mean duration of time between occurrence of injury and referral was 2.59 ± 2.11 hours, in the range of 1-35 hours. Among them, 1902 individuals (93.5%) were men, 1974 (97%) were Iranian, 1372 (76.4%) lived in the city, 1333 (65.5%) had a diploma, and 1698 (83.4%) had insurance. The highest number of referrals were in July-August (193 individuals, 9.5%) and the lowest number in September-October (142 individuals, 7%).
Table 1: Frequency of hyphema, penetrating trauma, corneal abration, corneal laceration, and laceration in other components of the eye based on age and gender
| Group | Hyphema (n=4) |
Penetrating trauma (n = 40) |
Corneal abration (n = 19) |
corneal laceration (n = 8) |
laceration in other components of the eye (n = 64) |
| N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | |
| Men | 4 (100) | 33 (82.5) | 14 (73.7) | 5 (62.5) | 54 (84.4) |
| Women | 0 | 7 (17.5) | 5 (26.3) | 3 (37.5) | 10 (15.6) |
| Total | 4 (100) | 40 (100) | 19 (100) | 8 (100) | 64 (100) |
| Result of statistical test (Fisher’s exact test) |
p=1 | p=0.013 | p=0.006 | p=0.012 | p=0.007 |
| 1-15 years of age | 1 (25) | 13 (32.5) | 1 (5.3) | 2 (25) | 21 (32.8) |
| 16-39 years of age | 3 (75) | 15 (37.5) | 12 (63.2) | 3 (37.5) | 26 (40.6) |
| Over 40 years of age | 0 | 12 (30) | 6 (31.6) | 3 (37.5) | 17 (26.6) |
| Total | 4 (100) | 40 (100) | 19 (100) | 8 (100) | 64 (100) |
| Result of statistical test | p=0.1 | p<0.001 | p=0.995 | p=0.026 | p<0.001 |
Regarding the object causing the injury, 4 (0.2%), 17 (0.8%), and 5 (0.2%) individuals were injured with a knife, wood, and stone, respectively, and 40 (2%) individuals had a penetrating trauma. Moreover, 21 individuals (1%) had chemical burns, and among this group, 17 (0.8%) and 4 (0.2%) individuals were injured with acidic and alkaline substances, respectively. Among the referrals to the emergency unit, 13 (0.6%) individuals had thermal burns (caused by exposure to direct flame or steam from boiling substances) and 5 (0.2%) individuals had injuries caused by welding. Regarding the type of disorder, 4 (0.2%), 8 (0.4%), 64 (3.1%), 12 (0.6%), 19 (0.9%), 11 (0.5%), 10 (0.5%), and 16 (0.8%) individuals had a hyphema, corneal laceration, laceration in other components of the eye, orbital cellulitis, corneal abrasion, ocular infection, retinal artery occlusion, and glaucoma, respectively. OFB was the cause of the referral of 1860 (91.4%) individuals to the emergency unit. In total, 48 (2.4%) cases of ocular emergency resulted in hospitalization.
Data analysis showed that penetrating trauma, corneal abration , corneal laceration, laceration in other components of the eye (Table 1), OFB, retinal artery occlusion, ocular infection, glaucoma, and cases resulting in hospitalization (Table 2) were significantly higher in men (P < 0.05).
Data analysis showed that penetrating trauma, corneal abration , corneal laceration, laceration in other components of the eye (Table 1), OFB, retinal artery occlusion, ocular infection, glaucoma, and cases resulting in hospitalization (Table 2) were significantly higher in men (P < 0.05).
Table 2: Frequency of orbital cellulitis, ocular foreign body, retinal artery occlusion, glaucoma, infection, and cases resulting in hospitalization based on age and gender
| Group | Orbital cellulitis (n=12) | ocular foreign body (n = 1860) |
Retinal artery occlusion (n = 10) |
Glaucoma (n =16) |
Infection (n = 11) |
Hospitalization (n = 48) |
| N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | |
| Men | 11 (91.7) | 1780 (95.7) | 7 (70) | 4 (25) | 6 (54.5) | 36 (75) |
| Women | 1 (8.3) | 80 (4.3) | 3. (30) | 12 (75) | 5 (45.5) | 12 (25) |
| Total | 12 (100) | 1860 (100) | 10 (100) | 16 (100) | 11 (100) | 48 (100) |
| Result of statistical test (Fisher’s exact test) |
p=0.557 | p<0.001 | p=0.023 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 | p<0.001 |
| 1-15 years of age | 1 (8.3) | 68 (3.7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (8.3) |
| 16-39 years of age | 5 (41.7) | 1209 (65) | 5 (50) | 1 (6.3) | 5 (45.5) | 24 (50) |
| Over 40 years of age | 6 (50) | 583 (31.3) | 5 (50) | 15 (93.8) | 6 (54.5) | 20 (41.7) |
| Total | 12 (100) | 1860 (100) | 10 (100) | 16 (100) | 11 (100) | 48 (100) |
| Result of statistical test | p=0.327 | p<0.001 | p=0.428 | p<0.001 | p=0.257 | p=0.168 |
Furthermore, penetrating trauma, ocular laceration, laceration in other components of the eye (Table 1), OFB (Table 2), and thermal burns (Table 3) were significantly higher in the age group of 16-39 years (P < 0.05). However, glaucoma was higher among women and the age group of over 40 years (P < 0.001) (Table 2).
Table 3: Frequency distribution of different types of burns and injuries caused by welding based on age and gender
| Group | Chemical burns (n = 21) |
Thermal burns (n = 13) |
Welding (n = 5) |
| N (%) | N (%) | N (%) | |
| Men | 21 (100) | 11 (84.6) | 5 (100) |
| Women | 0 | 2 (15.4) | 0 |
| Total | 21 (100) | 13 (100) | 5 (100) |
| Result of statistical test (Fisher’s exact test) |
P=0.394 | P=0.207 | P=0.713 |
| 1-15 years of age | 1 (4.8) | 2 (15.4) | 0 |
| 16-39 years of age | 12 (57.1) | 11 (84.6) | 5 (100) |
| Over 40 years of age | 8 (38.1) | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21 (100) | 13 (100) | 5 (100) |
| Result of statistical test | p=0.860 | p=0.017 | p=0.222 |
Discussion
The results of the present study showed that 93.5% of patients were men. The prevalence of men in other studies was 96% (11), 81.7% (13), and 54.2% (2). This high incidence was mainly due to occupation . In most countries, men perform difficult occupations which require industrial tools in the open air or polluted environments; thus, the rate of occupational eye injuries, like other occupational injuries, are higher among them (14).
In the present study, the mean age of patients was 35.49 ± 13.79 years, in the range of 1-90 years. In addition, 62.5% of patients referring to the ocular emergency units were in the range of 16-39 years of age. In most previous studies, the majority of patients referring to the ocular emergency units were in this age range (2, 9, 11, and 15). Individuals perform the majority of their occupational and professional activities over the age of 30; therefore, it is predictable that most occupational injuries, such as ocular injury, occur in this age range (16).
In the present study, the most common emergency was OFB with the prevalence of 91.4%. In studies conducted in Egypt (3), the USA (2), India (10), and Tehran (11), Tabriz (17), and Kashan, Iran (18), the prevalence of OFB was 99.37%, 7.5%, 45.4%, 72.7%, 79.7%, 55%, respectively.from this view, the result of the present study was in compatible with other studies, although it was higher than most of them., in addition dust can cause OFB due to desert type of our region.
A cause of the high prevalence of OFB in the present study, compared to previous studies, in the desert region of Rafsanjan, Iran, was the dispersion of dust due to seasonal winds and the dry air of the region, and its penetration into the eyes (19). Furthermore, occupation is one of the factors which impact the occurrence of most ocular emergencies such as OFB. Therefore, the use of eye protection equipment in industries must be increased through creating a safety culture or made compulsory. Ocular injuries may be sharp and penetrating (penetration and laceration) or blunt (injuries that cause the crushing and laceration of intraocular components without the object penetrating the eye) or intraocular injuries may occur through OFB (bullet, glass, stone, and etcetera) (20, 21). The most common damaging objects reported by patients in the present study were wood, stone, and knife, respectively. This finding was in accordance with that of the studies by Asalkho (22), and Dehghani (23).
The prevalence of corneal laceration in the present study was 0.4%. The prevalence of corneal laceration in Kashan, Iran (24), Isfahan, Iran (25), and Cairo, Egypt (3), was, respectively, 18.6%, 1.3%, and 4.6%.
Furthermore, in the present study, 16.7% of all hospitalized cases were due to corneal laceration; this rate was 77.3% and 23.2% in the studies by Abdellahi (26) and Norouzpour (27), respectively. Corneal laceration is very dangerous due to the possibility of intraocular infection in and damage to the inner structure of the eye (28).
In our study, 1% of all emergency cases had chemical burns, of this amount, 0.8% of burns were due to acidic substances and 0.2% due to alkaline substances. In Jafarinasab study , the rate of chemical burns was 0.86% and the majority of these cases were due to acidic substances (13), which was in agreement with the results of the present study. The prevalence of chemical burns in the study by Mansouri was 14.4% (29), which was much higher than that in the present study. In the present study, all individuals with chemical burns were men (n = 21) and 57.1% of them were in age range of 16-39 years. This age and gender prevalence was in accordance with other studies in other parts of the world (30, 31). In the current study, the location of accident occurrence was not assessed. Some chemical burn cases are due to household detergents which are mostly observed in women; however, the researches have shown that most chemical burns are due to occupational incidents.
A limitation of this study was incomplete records and lack of documentation for some patients. This issue can impact the reported statistics, but considering the electronization of the hospital admission and clearance procedures, its impact is insignificant. It is suggested that future researches be conducted as prospective studies. The lack of assessment of the time and location of the occurrence of the incident and use of protection equipment was another limitation of this study; thus, it is suggested that they be evaluated in future studies.
Conclusion
In the present study, the most common cause of referral to the ocular emergency unit was OFB, especially in men, which seems to be due to occupational incidents. Moreover, the prevalence of penetrating trauma was significant in the present study. It seems that the prevalence of some ocular emergencies, such as corneal laceration, in Rafsanjan was somewhat less than other mentioned areas. However, the prevalence of OFB was high which was mainly due to free dust and welders’ low use of eye protection equipment. Although the use of eye protection equipment was not evaluated in the present study, it is an important issue in the process of the protection of eyes from trauma.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the deputy of research of the School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, for the financial and moral support, the chief of the Moradi Hospital for permitting the use of hospital records and statistics, and the manager of Patient Admission Center, , personel of medical records and information technology unit for access to records and statistics.
Conflict of interests: None declared.
The results of the present study showed that 93.5% of patients were men. The prevalence of men in other studies was 96% (11), 81.7% (13), and 54.2% (2). This high incidence was mainly due to occupation . In most countries, men perform difficult occupations which require industrial tools in the open air or polluted environments; thus, the rate of occupational eye injuries, like other occupational injuries, are higher among them (14).
In the present study, the mean age of patients was 35.49 ± 13.79 years, in the range of 1-90 years. In addition, 62.5% of patients referring to the ocular emergency units were in the range of 16-39 years of age. In most previous studies, the majority of patients referring to the ocular emergency units were in this age range (2, 9, 11, and 15). Individuals perform the majority of their occupational and professional activities over the age of 30; therefore, it is predictable that most occupational injuries, such as ocular injury, occur in this age range (16).
In the present study, the most common emergency was OFB with the prevalence of 91.4%. In studies conducted in Egypt (3), the USA (2), India (10), and Tehran (11), Tabriz (17), and Kashan, Iran (18), the prevalence of OFB was 99.37%, 7.5%, 45.4%, 72.7%, 79.7%, 55%, respectively.from this view, the result of the present study was in compatible with other studies, although it was higher than most of them., in addition dust can cause OFB due to desert type of our region.
A cause of the high prevalence of OFB in the present study, compared to previous studies, in the desert region of Rafsanjan, Iran, was the dispersion of dust due to seasonal winds and the dry air of the region, and its penetration into the eyes (19). Furthermore, occupation is one of the factors which impact the occurrence of most ocular emergencies such as OFB. Therefore, the use of eye protection equipment in industries must be increased through creating a safety culture or made compulsory. Ocular injuries may be sharp and penetrating (penetration and laceration) or blunt (injuries that cause the crushing and laceration of intraocular components without the object penetrating the eye) or intraocular injuries may occur through OFB (bullet, glass, stone, and etcetera) (20, 21). The most common damaging objects reported by patients in the present study were wood, stone, and knife, respectively. This finding was in accordance with that of the studies by Asalkho (22), and Dehghani (23).
The prevalence of corneal laceration in the present study was 0.4%. The prevalence of corneal laceration in Kashan, Iran (24), Isfahan, Iran (25), and Cairo, Egypt (3), was, respectively, 18.6%, 1.3%, and 4.6%.
Furthermore, in the present study, 16.7% of all hospitalized cases were due to corneal laceration; this rate was 77.3% and 23.2% in the studies by Abdellahi (26) and Norouzpour (27), respectively. Corneal laceration is very dangerous due to the possibility of intraocular infection in and damage to the inner structure of the eye (28).
In our study, 1% of all emergency cases had chemical burns, of this amount, 0.8% of burns were due to acidic substances and 0.2% due to alkaline substances. In Jafarinasab study , the rate of chemical burns was 0.86% and the majority of these cases were due to acidic substances (13), which was in agreement with the results of the present study. The prevalence of chemical burns in the study by Mansouri was 14.4% (29), which was much higher than that in the present study. In the present study, all individuals with chemical burns were men (n = 21) and 57.1% of them were in age range of 16-39 years. This age and gender prevalence was in accordance with other studies in other parts of the world (30, 31). In the current study, the location of accident occurrence was not assessed. Some chemical burn cases are due to household detergents which are mostly observed in women; however, the researches have shown that most chemical burns are due to occupational incidents.
A limitation of this study was incomplete records and lack of documentation for some patients. This issue can impact the reported statistics, but considering the electronization of the hospital admission and clearance procedures, its impact is insignificant. It is suggested that future researches be conducted as prospective studies. The lack of assessment of the time and location of the occurrence of the incident and use of protection equipment was another limitation of this study; thus, it is suggested that they be evaluated in future studies.
Conclusion
In the present study, the most common cause of referral to the ocular emergency unit was OFB, especially in men, which seems to be due to occupational incidents. Moreover, the prevalence of penetrating trauma was significant in the present study. It seems that the prevalence of some ocular emergencies, such as corneal laceration, in Rafsanjan was somewhat less than other mentioned areas. However, the prevalence of OFB was high which was mainly due to free dust and welders’ low use of eye protection equipment. Although the use of eye protection equipment was not evaluated in the present study, it is an important issue in the process of the protection of eyes from trauma.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to thank the deputy of research of the School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, for the financial and moral support, the chief of the Moradi Hospital for permitting the use of hospital records and statistics, and the manager of Patient Admission Center, , personel of medical records and information technology unit for access to records and statistics.
Conflict of interests: None declared.
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