Work-related penetrating eye injuries.

A review of all penetrating eye injuries treated at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital over 5 years (January 1st 1982 to December 31st 1986) was undertaken. There were 258 penetrating eye injuries of which 69 (26.7%) were due to work-related accidents. All were men and 52 (75.4%) of them were under the age of 40 years. Hammering and chiselling were the commonest activities at the time of the injury and accounted for 25 cases (36.2%). Thirty-six patient (52.1%) had intraocular foreign bodies. Thirty-six patients (52.1%) achieved a good visual result (6/12 or better) and 9 had no perception of light, 7 of whom had enucleations. The period of inpatient treatment ranged from 1 to 26 days. From the analysis of the activities at the time of the injury, 61 injuries (88.4%) may be considered to be preventable with appropriate eye protection.