Lifetime prevalence of ocular injuries from the Baltimore Eye Survey
J. Katz and J. M. Tielsch
Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cumulative lifetime prevalence, nature, and
consequences of ocular injuries in a multiracial urban environment.
METHODS: Self-reported lifetime ocular injuries were ascertained in a
population-based sample of persons aged 40 years or older residing in 16
clusters in east Baltimore, Md. A total of 5308 subjects underwent a
screening eye examination and were interviewed about lifetime ocular
injuries. RESULTS: Eight hundred thirty ocular injury incidents were
reported by 762 (14.4%) subjects. The maximum number of ocular injuries
reported in a lifetime was four. At least one injury was reported by 22.5%
of black men, 20.3% of white men, 12.2% of black women, and 7.7% of white
women. No treatment was sought for 18% of these injuries (22% black and 14%
white subjects). The prevalence of visual impairment due to trauma per 1000
people was 22.3 among black men, 7.4 among white men, 6.7 among black
women, and 3.5 among white women. The prevalence of blindness due to trauma
in at least one eye was 21.2 per 1000 among black men, 3.7 times the rate
among white men. Based on reports of injuries in the year prior to
interview, the annual incidence of medically treated ocular injuries per
1000 people was 5.6 among black men, 4.1 among white men, 5.3 among black
women and 1.8 among white women aged 40 years and older. CONCLUSIONS:
Lifetime prevalences of ocular injuries were similar among both black and
white men, but the visual consequences of the injuries were more severe
among black men.
