Statistical Study on Industrial Eye Injuries.

Kim, Yong Tae

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1974;15(4):346-353.
Published online April 1, 1974.

Statistical Study on Industrial Eye Injuries.

Yong Tae Kim

Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.

공업안외상의 통계적 관찰

김용태 ( Yong Tae Kim )

Abstract

In this study, in- and out-patients, who were treated at Korea University Woo-Sok Hospital (downtown hospital) and a private eye clinic (industrial zone clinic) during the period from January 1, 1969 to December 31, 1973, were statistically analyzed. Regional characteristics in incidence between all and industrial eye injuries were compared with each other. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Among a total of 77,021 patients, eye injures accounted for 18, 100 cases of which 10,699 were due to industrial injury. i) In downtown, eye injuries were 3.2% of all patients and industrial eye injuries 0.2%. ii) In industrial zone, incidence of eye injuries formed 28.3% and industrial injuries 17.1%. iii) Incidence of eye injuries in industrial zone were nine times as high as in that of downtown; industrial eye injuries were 86 times. iv) Industrial eye injuries accounted for 6.5% of eye injuries in downtown and 60.5% in industrial zone; incidence in industrial zone were 9 times as high as in downtown. v) Industrial eye injuries in 1973 increased to twice as high as in 1969. 2. Male accounted for 97.4%; the third decade 49.9%. 3. Monocular injuries accounted for 92.4% of eye injuries. No marked difference in incidence was noted between both eyes. 4. No significant difference in incidence was noted between different seasons or months. 5. The cases received first care between 24 and 48 hours following injury accounted for 43.3%. 6. The first injury accounted for 95.3% of all injuries and repeated injuries 4.7%. 7. Corneal foreign bodies accounted for 59.64% and cornea was the most common site to the injury responsible for 78.76%. Retained foreign bodies formed 66.42% of all eye iujuries. The most common objects to the injury were iron pieces which were responsible for 66.42%. 8. Visual acuity was improved in most cases by prompt and adequate treatment, but corrected vision after treatment was less than 20/200 in 15.4%, which was due mainly to the perforating or thermal injury.