Changes in eye protection behavior following an occupational eye injury

Causes, occupational risk and socio-economic determinants of eye injuries: a literature review

Purpose

This review provides literature views on ocular trauma, with emphasis on common causes of injury, occupational risk, socio-economic factors, management peculiarities and some implications on overall care approach, from prevention to treatment.

Methods

A literature search was performed using key words in PubMed to extract the most relevant articles on ocular injuries, from an occupational point of view. Seventeen relevant articles were included out of seventy-two. Eight relevant articles were found from the references of the articles included and were also added. The total number of articles for this systematic search analysis was twenty-five. Collected information was tabulated in the Appendix.

Results

Most of the included publications were original articles. Many studies were retrospective and cross-sectional with a satisfactory rate of participant recruitment when reported. Most of eye injuries occurred in the workplace. Common eye injuries were due to foreign bodies and corneal abrasions. High-risk occupations included welders, farmers, metalworkers and grinding, construction and manufacturing workers. Most of the injuries could be preventable by using suitable protective eye devices (PED) but appropriate protection is a more complex process than it appears.

Conclusions

Findings of this review showed that it is compulsory to inform people about the risk and consequences of eye injuries. Eye care services should be designed keeping in mind geo-epidemiologic trauma etiology patterns and local health system capacity. Issues of adherence to prevention measures remain object of knowledge dissemination, educational planning and cultural appraisal. Modernizing equipment and respecting workplace regulations are tasks that deserve continuous attention.

Manifestações oculares em trabalhadores portuários: prevalência e fatores associados

Resumo Objetivo: Conhecer a prevalência de manifestações oculares em trabalhadores portuários e identificar fatores associados. Métodos: Estudo transversal em um Porto marítimo do extremo Sul do Brasil. Participaram 232 trabalhadores. Para coleta dos dados utilizou-se entrevista estruturada. Foi utilizado teste t de Student para amostras independentes, a fim de comparar as médias dos trabalhadores com manifestações oculares, por meio dos qualificadores em grau no mínimo moderado (presença de manifestações oculares) e aqueles sem manifestações oculares ou grau leve (ausência de manifestações oculares). O teste de Mann-Whitney foi utilizado no caso de assimetria. O teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson ou o teste exato de Fisher foram usados para comparar proporções e a análise de Regressão de Poisson foi usada para controlar os fatores de confusão. Resultados: A prevalência de manifestações oculares autorreferidos foi 92,2%. As manifestações oculares foram: coceira/prurido (49,1%), irritação (41,4%), ardor (39,2%), lacrimejamento (34,9%), sensação de cansaço (32,3%), alteração na pigmentação ocular (26,7%), dor (17,7%), ressecamento dos olhos (14,2%) e sensação de pressão atrás dos olhos (9,9). A utilização de filme para envelopar mercadoria contribuiu para maior prevalência de manifestações oculares. Já a utilização de luvas como equipamento de proteção individual auxiliou na menor prevalências dessas manifestações. Conclusão: Acredita-se que os achados do presente estudo possam subsidiar a avaliação clínica do enfermeiro na abordagem de trabalhadores portuários, assim como direcionar o planejamento e a implementação de cuidados socioambientais condizentes com as necessidades de saúde desses e de outros trabalhadores.

Compliance With Protective Lens Wear in Anophthalmic Patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate the frequency of protective lens wear by anophthalmic patients and identify factors that influence compliance.

METHODS

An IRB approved descriptive retrospective chart review of patients undergoing surgery with the senior author (PLC) with an anophthalmic orbit and one remaining sighted eye. Results were tabulated and analyzed using age, indication for procedure, duration of visual symptoms, safety glasses wear, number of postoperative visits, and evidence of new trauma to the remaining eye. All patients underwent counseling on the importance of protective lens wear preoperatively and each subsequent visit.

RESULTS

Etiologies for loss of the eye in the 132 study patients included trauma (33.3%), blind painful eye (33.3%), congenital disorders (14.4%), adult-onset malignancy (14.4%), and retinoblastoma (4.5%). At the final visit, protective lenses were worn in the following patterns: full-time (55.3%), frequently (11.4%), occasional (6%), and never (28.8%). The regular use of protective eyewear at last visit was more common in patients wearing glasses at presentation (79.7%), than in those who did not (32.9%; p ≤ 0.001). Increased number of office encounters correlated with more frequent use of protective eyewear (p ≤ 0.01). Patient age (p = 0.95), indication for surgery (p = 0.97), and duration of visual loss (p = 0.85) were not predictive of safety glasses wear. Three patients had evidence of subsequent ocular trauma to the remaining eye, with 2 having resultant decrease in acuity; none of these 3 patients wore safety glasses full-time.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant number of anopthalmic patients were not wearing protective lenses at presentation. Overall compliance was poor; but repeated education on the importance of safety glasses appears to improve compliance. Educating referring providers and primary care physicians about the importance of early and repeated counseling is vital to increasing compliance.

Paediatric emergency department-based carbon monoxide detector intervention: a randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Although non-fire-related carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is almost entirely preventable, over 400 people die and 20 000 people are injured each year in the USA from unintentional CO poisoning. Thus, there is a critical need for evidence-based interventions for preventing CO poisoning and increasing the proper use and installation of CO detectors.

METHODS

A randomised, controlled trial (Project CODE, a Carbon Monoxide Detector Education intervention) with 2-week and 6-month follow-up home observations was conducted in 299 parents of children aged ≤18 years recruited in the emergency department of a level 1 paediatric trauma centre. The intervention group received an educational tool, a spiral-bound, laminated booklet that resembled a CO detector containing theory-based safety messages based on the precaution adoption process model, a plug-in CO detector and 9 V battery. The control group received a one page flyer on CO poisoning prevention.

RESULTS

Although the difference was not statistically significant, mean CO knowledge score increased at a greater rate for the intervention group than the control group. Intervention group parents were more likely to exhibit 'safe' CO detector use than control group parents at the 2-week follow-up (RR: 2.75; 95% CI 2.06 to 3.69) and 6-month follow-up (RR: 2.78; 95% CI 2.06 to 3.76), after adjusting for self-reported CO detector use behaviour at enrolment and annual per capita income.

CONCLUSIONS

An emergency department-delivered intervention containing a theory-based educational tool paired with a CO detector can be an effective method for increasing knowledge about CO poisoning, for prevention and for appropriate use of a CO detector.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT00959478.

Accidental Trichloroacetic Acid Burn in a Gynecology Office

BACKGROUND

Trichloroacetic acid is routinely used by gynecologists to treat anogenital diseases, and accidental exposure to the health care providers may result in serious burns. This case serves to raise awareness of accidental exposure of trichloroacetic acid and describes preventive, first aid, and treatment recommendations that may limit the incidence and severity of burn injury among gynecologists.

CASE

A 32-year-old female gynecologist incurred a deep second-degree, 12×14-cm, work-related chemical burn by unintentionally spilling a container of approximately 20 mL of 80% trichloroacetic acid onto her right thigh during an outpatient procedure. First aid included removal of her soaked clothing, 5 minutes of soap and cold water irrigation, and liberal placement of petroleum-based ointment onto the injury site. Treatment consisted of topical silver sulfadiazine cream twice a day, coverage with silver-impregnated silicone foam dressing, and a circumferential soft bandage to minimize sheer forces along the wound. A 9-month follow-up demonstrated a well-healed, mildly hypopigmented, aesthetically favorable wound with return of sensation.

CONCLUSION

Accidental trichloroacetic acid burns are a potential hazard in a gynecology office. Health care workers should be familiar with prevention, first aid, and appropriate treatment that often can result in acceptable long-term outcomes.