Causes and characteristics of work-related eye injuries in western Turkey

• Main Authors: Mustafa Serinken, Ibrahim Turkcuer, Ebru Nevin Cetin, Atakan Yilmaz, Hayri Elicabuk, Ozgur Karcioglu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Chemotherapy; focal treatment; retinoblastoma; Allergic eye disease; papillae; shield ulcer; vernal keratoconjunctivitis; Anti-VEGF injections; bevacizumab; neovascular age-related macular degeneration; ranibizumab; submacular hemorrhage; Emergency department; ocular; trauma; work related injuries
• Online Access: http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2013;volume=61;issue=9;spage=497;epage=501;aulast=Serinken
• ISSN: 0301-4738; 1998-3689

Objectives: To analyze descriptive data and characteristics of work-related eye injuries (WREI) admitted into the emergency department (ED) and obtain information to utilize in planning measures to prevent WREI. Materials and Methods: This prospective study recruited patients with WREI admitted to the center in the two-year study period. Only the casualties occurred at the workplace and while working constituted the sample. The data were collected via face-to-face contact in the ED. Results: Males comprised the majority of the sample (95.3%, n = 778) and mean age of the patients was 28.1 ± 6.5 (range: 15-54) with the biggest percentage in between 25 and 34 years of age (46.2%, n = 377). Most patients were working in the metal and machinery sectors (66.4%, n = 542). Nearly half of the patients had less than 1 year of experience (50.4%, n = 411). The most common mechanism of WREI was noted to be exposures to welding light (26.9%, n = 219), followed by drilling/cutting injuries (21.1%, n = 172). "Carelessness" and "hurrying up" were the most commonly reported causes of WREIs among ′worker-related causes′ (21.4% and 16.1%, respectively). Lack of protective measures ranked the highest among workplace-related causes (18.7%, n = 207). Conclusions: Programs to increase awareness on workplace safety and sound preventive strategies for both parties-employers and employees are to be pursued. Occupational safety efforts should include training on workplace eye safety and campaigns to raise knowledgeability on this disease among workers.