Ocular Trauma Amongst Youngsters and Blue Collared Workers
![Ocular Trauma Amongst Youngsters and Blue Collared Workers Ocular Trauma Amongst Youngsters and Blue Collared Workers](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/h-upload/2025/01/29/1886027-whatsappimage2025-01-29at43923pm.webp)
Picture courtesy : DC
Loss of vision is a prominent health concern affecting an estimated 50 million individuals in India every year. Ocular trauma is a major contributing factor to visual impairment. This is often overlooked especially with the injuries being common among youngsters, creating a significant impact on the socio-economic standing. On a slightly positive note, an estimated 1.2% of cases are attributed to avoidable blindness, emphasizing precautionary steps that need to be taken the instant ocular trauma occurs.
What is ocular trauma and why it occurs?
Ocular trauma in layman's terms is a term used when there is an injury or damage to the cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids, and deeper structures like the retina and optic nerve. Over 2 million ocular trauma cases are being reported every year and 40,000 of which contribute to vision loss. The trauma is primarily classified into two types: open-globe and closed-globe injuries. The open-globe injuries are full-thickness wounds of the eye globe caused by pointy objects and ruptures which are caused by blunt objects. On the other hand, the closed-globe injury is a partial-thickness wound and is categorized into lesions caused by blunt objects on the cornea or sclera tissue and partial-thickness wounds caused by sharp objects.
The most commonly occurring ocular trauma are blunt trauma, chemical burns, burns from thermal and unprotected UV exposure, and orbital fractures. Some of the major causes of ocular trauma include assault, participation in sports, and accidents. Another major cause includes workplace factors because of the environmental conditions in places like agricultural fields, construction sites and chemical factories.
Socio-economic factors evident in the cases of ocular trauma
While young males remain the most commonly affected group along with children, the causes of ocular trauma also vary based on the socio-economic status of the people in India. Farmers, laborers, industry workers and students are the most common groups to suffer from ocular trauma. This is because of the workplace conditions and lack of affordable gear for the labor class and also the lack of awareness regarding early intervention which could potentially lessen the effects of the injury. If immediate intervention is not attempted, ocular trauma can result in permanent vision loss, orbital deformities, or secondary complications like infections or glaucoma. At the same time, it can have an emotional and economic burden on the affected individuals and their families.
“It is a must to avoid rubbing, touching, or applying pressure for any sort of eye injury. It is important to avoid trying to remove the objects stuck in the eye or apply medication without medical consultation. Flushing out the eye to clear debris or chemicals and gently applying a cold compress can help lessen the impact before reaching the hospital. Timely intervention is of utmost importance in preserving vision after ocular trauma as even seemingly minor injuries can have lasting effects if not treated promptly,” points out Dr. Pallavi Joshi, Consultant-Cornea, Ocular Surface and Refractive Surgery, Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru.
Preventive Measures to lessen the impact of Ocular Trauma -
- Wearing protective eyewear can help decrease the occurrence of ocular injury, especially in the workplace with potential hazards like chemicals, UV equipment, sharp metal, lasers, or while riding.
- Educating the workers to understand the implications of not wearing protective eye gear.
- Using goggles and helmets made of polycarbonate face shields to avoid facial and ocular trauma while playing sports.
- Baby-proofing the house to avoid any sharp or blunt objects, potentially causing ocular trauma in children.
- Counseling youth and teaching them about the immediate steps that need to be taken in case of an eye injury helps avoid further complications.
Today, ocular trauma remains a largely neglected yet profoundly impactful health issue, which stems largely from a lack of awareness about preventive measures, intervention and the critical role of protective eyewear in high-risk environments. With supporting proactive measures and ensuring proper medical care, we can strive towards a future where avoidable vision loss due to ocular trauma can become a rare occurrence rather than a being a frequent event across India.
The article is authored by Dr. Pallavi Joshi, Consultant-Cornea, Ocular Surface and Refractive Surgery, Sankara Eye Hospital, Bengaluru
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
Next Story