Journal Article

Eye injuries from fireworks used during celebrations and associated vision loss: the international globe and adnexal trauma epidemiology study (IGATES)

Mishra Chitaranjan, Shah, Mehul, de Faber Jan Tjeerd, Singh Shakeen, Grover, A K, Atenor Patricia, Pradhan, Eli, Limbu, Ben, Khandelwal Rekha, Susvar Pradeep, Fasika, Woreta, Agrawal Rupesh, Das Amulya, Chaitra, Jayadev, Salz, Diana, Low, Rebecca, Nair Akshay, Scattini, Fernando Jorge, Watson, Stephanie L, Hoskin, Annette, Khatri Anadi, Gunasekeran, Dinesh Visva, Balasubramanian, Dhipak A, Sen, Parveen, Hoskin, Annette K, Kaur Anureet, Woreta, Fasika A, Larroude Martina, Hom, Gurung, Keay, Lisa, Ramasamy, Kim, Raman Rajiv, Jain Kushagra, Rousselot Andres, Mittal Anurag, Natarajan, S

2022

Overview

PurposeTo report on the factors associated with severe vision loss from fireworks-related ocular trauma during celebrations, including festivals.MethodsTertiary eye care hospitals in 5 countries and private ophthalmology practices in the Netherlands. Patients included received treatment for fireworks-related ocular trauma during celebrations. Demographic and clinical data for patients affected were analyzed and associations with severe vision loss reported.ResultsOf 388 patients, 71 (18.3 %) had severe vision loss (worse than 6/60) at 4-week follow-up due to fireworks-related ocular trauma. Mean age overall was 20.6 years (range 2 to 83 years), and there was a male predominance of 4:1. Clinical factors associated with severe vision loss included penetrating injury (OR 4.874 [95% CI 1.298–18.304; p = 0.02]) and lens injury (OR 7.023 [95% CI 2.378–20.736; p = 0.0004]). More patients with closed-globe injuries (CGIs) had improved vision after 4 weeks (OR 3.667, 1.096–12.27) compared to those with open-globe injuries (OGI) (p = 0.035). Eye protection use was reported by 7 patients, and 39.4% patients < 18 years were unsupervised by an adult at the time of injury.ConclusionsSevere vision loss from fireworks-related ocular trauma occurred during celebrations in a variety of countries and was associated with penetrating and/or lens injury and poor presenting vision. New initiatives are needed to prevent severe vision loss associated with these injuries.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Epidemiology / Eye / Injuries / Ophthalmology / Patients / Trauma / Vision