Open-globe injuries with motor vehicle accidents: a 12-year review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate demographics, characteristics, and outcomes of open-globe injuries (OGIs) in motor vehicle accidents (MVAs).

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of patients with OGIs related to MVAs that presented to University Hospital, Newark, from 2000 to 2012.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients were identified; the average age of the patients was 33.3 years old (range, 5-75). The majority of patients (64 %) were males. The 25 vehicles comprised 24 automobiles and one motorcycle. Ten patients (40 %) wore seatbelts, and five (20 %) did not wear seatbelts. The seatbelt status was not documented in the remaining cases. Ethanol was documented as a contributing factor in five of the accidents. In terms of open-globe classification, 15 OGIs (60 %) were ruptures, and five (20 %) were penetrating injuries; three (12 %) had intraocular foreign bodies. Ten eyes (40 %) had a final VA of 20/400 or worse. Fourteen eyes (56 %) achieved a final VA of 20/200 or better; seven eyes (28 %) achieved a final VA of 20/40 or better.

CONCLUSION

Fifty-six percent of eyes with an open-globe injury related to MVAs achieved a final VA of 20/200 or better in this series. No eyes developed endophthalmitis.