Ocular Trauma Epidemiology and Management
Summary
Ocular trauma remains a leading cause of unilateral visual impairment worldwide, affecting populations across all age groups and socioeconomic settings. Incidence peaks in young adult males, particularly in occupational and recreational settings, while falls and home accidents predominate among older individuals and children. Injuries are broadly classified into open globe injuries (full-thickness wounds of the corneoscleral shell) and closed globe injuries (non–full-thickness trauma), with frequent involvement of adnexal structures such as eyelids and lacrimal apparatus. The global distribution reflects variations in workplace safety, use of protective eyewear and legislation. Initial assessment relies on standardised classification systems to grade severity, localise wounds and predict prognosis. Management spans urgent globe closure, removal of intraocular foreign bodies and staged vitreoretinal surgery for posterior segment damage. Pars plana vitrectomy has become central to addressing retinal detachments, endophthalmitis prevention and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Innovations in biomaterials and adhesives aim to stabilise corneal wounds in the field, while telemedicine and portable imaging expand diagnostic reach. Preventive strategies include public health campaigns, occupational regulation and school-based safety education. Despite advances, resource limitations in low-income regions pose ongoing challenges to timely intervention and rehabilitation, underlining the need for equitable access to surgical expertise and postoperative care.
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Ocular Trauma Epidemiology and Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ocular trauma epidemiology and management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Open globe injury (OGI): A full-thickness laceration or rupture of the corneoscleral wall compromising the integrity of the eye.
Closed globe injury (CGI): Blunt or non–full-thickness trauma to the eye in which the ocular coats remain intact.
Intraocular foreign body (IOFB): A fragment of metal, glass or other material retained within the ocular chambers or tissues after trauma.
Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV): A microsurgical technique involving removal of the vitreous gel via the pars plana to access and repair posterior segment pathology.
References
- Explosive eye injuries: characteristics, traumatic mechanisms, and prognostic factors for poor visual outcomes. Military Medical Research (2023).
- OcuPair, a Novel Photo‐crosslinkable PAMAM Dendrimer‐Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Bandage/Bioadhesive for Corneal Injuries and Temporary Corneal Repair. Advanced Science (2025).
- Closed globe and adnexal eye injuries: Epidemiology, clinical and surgical outcomes, and an economic cost analysis. Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (2023).
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