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Epidemiology and pattern of motorcycle accident related ocular injuries in a rural tertiary care hospital in Eastern India

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Original Article

Author Details : Debabrata Das, Somedeb Gupta

Volume : 2, Issue : 4, Year : 2016

Article Page : 341-344

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Abstract

In this study we want to evaluate the epidemiology and pattern of ocular injury among motorcycle accident cases attending a rural tertiary care hospital in eastern India.
This cross sectional prospective noninterventional study was conducted in a rural tertiary care hospital in eastern India. The data collected were demographic variables, presenting complaints, time interval between injury and reporting to the hospital, whether injured person was motorcycle driver, rider or pedestrian, history of any treatment received, intake of alcohol and use of helmet at the time of accident. The detailed ophthalmic examination   with type and extend of ocular injury was documented. The best corrected visual acuity at the end of 6 months graded as good(visual acuity >6/18), fair (6/18-6/60) or poor (<6/60). 
In this study 671patients were included and total 697 eyes were studied. The right eye injury was noted in 386(57.5%) cases, left eye injury in 213(31.8%) cases and 72(10.7%) patients had bilateral ocular injuries. There were 632(94.18%) male and 39(5.82%) female cases. The commonest affected age group was 21-30 years with 231(34.4%) cases.  Most of the affected victims were unemployed youth 229(34.1%). Most common time interval between injury and reporting to the hospital was 12-24 hrs of 397(59.2%). Only 273 (40.7%) patients were wearing a helmet at the time of accident and 256(38.2%) patients consumed alcohol before the incidence of accident. The eyelid ecchymosis in 219(31.4%) eyes was the commonest type of ocular injury detected in our study. The conservative treatment was done in 551(79.0%) eyes while 146(21.0%) eyes required surgical repair. The final good visual acuity was of 6/6 to 6/18 in589 (84.5%) eyes and only15 (2.2%) eyes had poor visual acuity.
This study enhances our understanding of ocular injuries by motorcycle accidents. Awareness about road safety, safe road infrastructure and enforcement of safety laws can minimize ocular injuries and its consequences on vision.

Keywords: Accident, Motorcycle, Ocular injuries, Rural

How to cite : Das D, Gupta S, Epidemiology and pattern of motorcycle accident related ocular injuries in a rural tertiary care hospital in Eastern India. Indian J Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2016;2(4):341-344

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