Characteristics, Causes, and the Five-Year Incidence of Traumatic Open Globe Injuries at Chumphae Hospital, Khon Kaen Province, North-Eastern Thailand

Abstract

Traumatic open globe injuries represent a significant cause of severe visual impairment and blindness. This study presents a retrospective descriptive analysis of all patients diagnosed with traumatic open globe injuries by ophthalmologists at Chumphae Hospital between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. The primary objective of this research was to study the characteristics, causes, and five-year incidence of these injuries.

The findings reveal that the majority of patients (90.38%) were male, with a mean age of 47.37 years (SD 20.86). Farming was the predominant occupation (38.46%), and the average time from injury to hospital presentation was 24.48 hours. Most cases involved corneal wounds with a penetrating globe injury type (76.92%). The most common cause of injury was rock-related incidents (28.85%). Accidents predominantly occurred at the patients' workplaces, with self-inflicted injuries being the most frequent scenario (82.69%). The five-year incidence rate of traumatic open globe injuries at Chumphae Hospital was 52 cases, equating to 12.10 per 100,000 population, with a noticeable annual increase and a peak incidence in August. Statistical analyses indicated that age, occupation, the injured eye, and the cause were significantly different (p-value <0.05) between patients with severe visual impairment following the injury (VA<20/200) and those with better visual acuity (VA≥20/200).

These findings are instrumental in raising awareness and developing preventive strategies, such as the promotion of appropriate protective eyewear, to reduce future injury rates among at-risk populations.