Perforating eye injury in the Stockholm population. An epidemiological study.

We studied the occurrence of perforating eye injury (PEI) during the period 1974-1979 in the population (1.5 million) of Stockholm county. Information was obtained from medical and population registries, medical records and personal interviews. PEI was almost 6 times more common in men than in women, and age specific incidence rates varied from 94.3 per million person years in young men (10-19 years) to 3.9 in elderly women (60-69 years). The risk appeared somewhat increased in the unmarried, but not in foreign citizens. Most injuries occurred during the day with no less than 54% between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and only 2% after 9 p.m. The most common activity at the time of injury was paid work (27%) followed by play or sport (23%), while 10% of the cases were due to fight or assault. Among those injuried in paid work, the most common occupation was construction worker or building metal worker. Metal and glass fragments were the most common perforating objects, but thorns from planted bushes caused many perforating injuries in children.