Background: We aimed to review the epidemiology and visual outcome of patients with open globe injuries in the northwest part of Turkey.
Methods: All patients admitted to the Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine with open globe injuries between 2004-2008 were reviewed retrospectively.
Results: Ninety-five eyes of 95 patients, aged between 3 and 79 years, were reviewed. The type of open eye injury was laceration in 76 eyes (80%) and rupture in 19 eyes (20%). In all age groups, projectile objects were the most common cause of injury. In patients 18 years and older, sharp objects (11.1%) were the least prevalent cause of open globe injuries; however, traumas with sharp objects were common in patients younger than 18 years (38.1%) (p=0.01). In patients younger than 18 years, most injuries occurred at home (68.3%), while in patients 18 years and older, the majority of ocular traumas occurred at work (59.2%) (p=0.000). Isolated Zone I lesions showed more improvement in visual acuity than other zones (p=0.043).
Conclusion: Open globe injury in northwest Turkey varied with age and gender. Education and safety precautions are essential to prevent open eye injuries.