Civil unrest and ocular trauma.

The incidence and causes of ocular trauma among Israeli troops serving in the West Bank and Gaza between 1987 and 1989 was investigated. Of the 985 soldiers who were reported injured, 11.3% (111) were reported to have suffered from injuries to the eye. Although most of the soldiers were supplied with some kind of protective gear, only 27% reported that they received eye protection; none used this protection at the time of injury. Fifty-seven percent of the injuries were caused by stones and 38% by flying glass; 14.6% of soldiers suffered bilateral eye injuries. Only 12.1% of those injured wore corrective lenses. Although only 5% were originally reported to have suffered moderate to severe injuries, 38% complained of residual vision impairment. Better eye protection and enforcement of orders to use such gear would reduce the number and severity of ocular injuries.