Ocular trauma—both blunt and penetrating—is a major contributor to visual impairment and blindness. In the United States alone, there are approximately 2.4 million injuries to the eye and the orbit annually, and some 40,000 persons sustain significant vision loss each year secondary to such injuries. In the Beaver Dam Eye Study, 20% of adults reported some form of ocular trauma in their lifetimes. Overall ocular trauma is second only to cataract as a cause for vision impairment in the United States, and trauma is the leading cause of unilateral blindness. Statistically, males (particularly young males) are at higher risk than females. While trauma itself is not necessarily preventable, its ocular sequelae may be, with the use of appropriate impact-resistant eyewear, goggles, helmets, and/or full-face protection.
Groups With Heightened Vulnerability or Risk
While all individuals should protect their eyes with appropriate impact-resistant eyewear, goggles, helmets, or full-face protection during occupational and recreational activities that put them at risk for ocular trauma, some groups may be at higher risk for ocular trauma and its vision-threatening sequelae. These include children, monocular patients, professional athletes, certain industrial workers (eg, arc welders and construction workers), and the elderly.
It might be argued that all ocular trauma is potentially preventable. However, even under the best of circumstances, this is simply not true, particularly in the case of random trauma. Nevertheless, accidents can be reduced through education to increase awareness of the possibility of trauma under specific circumstances, and effective ways to protect the eyes from such trauma.
To learn more about protection against ocular trauma on the job as well as other potential occupational hazards to Healthy Sight, click here.
To learn more about protection against ocular trauma and other hazards during recreational activities, click here.