Eye injury requiring hospitalisation in Enugu Nigeria: A one-year survey

BACKGROUND: - Eye injuries are becoming relatively important, not only as a cause of presentation but also a cause for admission at health centres in Nigeria. In view of this trend being observed and the fact that most eye injuries requiring hospital admission may give rise to grave ocular consequences. This study set out to highlight the pattern of eye injuries admitted into the eye ward of a Nigerian Teaching Hospital over one year. This is with a view to providing suitable protocols in the management and prevention of such injuries and their attendant ocular complications.
MATERIALS AND METHODS : - A retrospective study of all cases of eye injury admitted into the eye ward of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria in the year 2003 was conducted. All the hospital records of such cases were studied.
RESULTS: - Eye trauma constituted 15.95% of 257 admissions. Males comprised 78%, and children comprised 22%. The commonest agents of injury were gunshot pellets, glass, metal and wood pieces. Activities implicated commonly were assault/combat, agricultural/artisan work-related accidents and road traffic accidents. A variety of sight threatening complications were noted in these subjects. Visual acuity on presentation ranged between 6/12 and no light perception (NPL). After treatment, approximately 80% of the injured eyes were blind.
CONCLUSION: - Eye injuries requiring hospitalisation in Nigeria are not only common, but also severe. Safety measures and health education campaigns should help reduce this public health problem.