Understanding and preventing occupational eye injuries in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Socioepidemiological study

Occupational eye injuries include any injury from an occupational exposure or activity during the course of employment. Eye injuries are the leading cause of monocular blindness within working and younger population, and they pose a large financial burden for individuals and companies in every country, especially in developing countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina. Occupational eye injuries are preventable, but their incidence is underestimated and opportunities for prevention neglected. We conducted a five year retrospective descriptive study among of all severe eye injured patients hospitalized in the County Hospital Zenica Ophthalmology Department in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This department serves as the reference center for all Zenica Doboj County eye-injuries. The goal was to investigate types and characteristics of occupational eye injuries and compare these to non-occupational eye injuries. We hypothesize that this data will support more strict occupational regulation and legislation of protective eyewear. We used medical records and surgical room protocols for estimate the rates. We found 200 patients hospitalized with severe eye injuries; among those 47 (23.5%) severe work-related eye-injuries. Males comprised 94% of all cases as compared to 77% for non-work-related. Employment in coal mining, lumber, construction and steel industries was associated with most cases. Over 57% of all work related cases reported not using any eye protection at work, and 23.40% did not have any records about eye protection. This data may help enact legislation to enforce use of protective eyewear at work.