Incidence and Prevalence of Eyelid Injuries among Ophthalmic Trauma patients in El- Demerdash Hospital

Abstract

Eyelid injury was defined as any trauma to the eyelids with or without evident loss of tissue or other ocular co-morbidities; enforcing the patient to seek hospital care.

Among all sites of injury, eyelid injuries seems to be neglected with insufficient epidemiological studies. So with a thorough understanding of the risk factors of eyelid injuries, it is possible to develop a better preventive strategy and hence improve the public health policy in this respect.

The aim of this study was to identify the subjects at a greater risk of developing eyelid injuries and to determine its etiological causes.

In the present study, the total number of eyelid injuries was 150 (26.5%) from all cases of trauma referred to El-Demerdash hospital. So the incidence of eyelid wounds was 26.5%.

Eyelid injuries were found to be more common among males than females with less incidence of occurrence among children and elderly. This is due to more male involvement in different street activities and

conflictsthan females with the rarity of participation of children and elderly in various street activities such that most of these injuries occurred accidentally.

Peak incidence was found in the adult age group 21-

30 years especially students, manual workers and drivers. Gunshots represented the second most common mechanism of eyelid injuries after blunt trauma which may be due to the social and political unrest in the Egyptian community.

Manual workers were found to be the second most common involved population with eyelid injuries due to the regular use of blunt objects especially metal bars and sharp objects especially glass in different industries representing the first and third common mechanisms of eyelid injuries respectively. This explains the importance of wearing and using safety precautions during working such as goggles and face shields.

Drivers were found to be the third most common involved population with the motor car accidents representing the fourth common mechanism of eyelid injuries. This could be correlated to the unbelievable crowding in the Egyptian streets and disrespect to traffic

rules by some individuals. This explains the importance of obeying different traffic rules to avoid such injuries.

Isolated eyelid injuries didn’t cause significant decrease or affection of vision unless associated with other globe injurieswhich was the most important prognostic factor for visual outcomes.

The left side showed higher incidence of eyelid injuries than the right side with less involvement of both sides. The lower eyelid showed a higher incidence of occurrence than the upper eyelid.

Most of cases of eyelid injuries in our study reported the involvement of the eyelid margin.

Eyelid injuries were commonly reported combined with other globe injuries than being reported alone indicating the severity of trauma that caused globe injury. Lacrimal drainage system involvement especially the canaliculus was commonly reported with eyelid injuries than being reported with other globe injuries or reportedalone without eyelid injuries.