Eye injury: prevalence and prognosis by setting.

Although an estimated 1 million Americans suffer ocular injuries each year, the setting of injury and its prognostic implications have not been closely examined. Using data compiled by the Eye Injury Registry of Alabama (EIRA) from 514 cases of serious eye injury, we examined the demographics and prognosis of ocular injury by setting of injury. Work-related injuries accounted for only 28% of total injuries, and injuries occurring at home accounted for 27%, followed by situations related to recreation (25%), assault (11%), travel (5%), and "other" (school, unknown, etc) (4%). The poorest initial vision, poorest final vision, and highest rate of enucleation occurred in patients injured by assault, whereas the lowest rate of enucleation and loss of light perception was found in patients who had work-related injuries. Patients in the "other" category had the highest rate of return to 20/100 or better vision.