Ophthalmic Trauma: An Overlooked Global Cause of Preventable Blindness and Disability.

Cohort studyAmerican journal of ophthalmology· May 2026

Ophthalmic Trauma: An Overlooked Global Cause of Preventable Blindness and Disability.

Rupesh Agrawal, Aedann See, Faye Ng Yu Ci … Asia Pacific Ophthalmic Trauma Society (APOTS) Taskforce for the Prevention of Blindness and Disability from Ophthalmic Trauma

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Community Eye HealthCohort studyClinical practiceQ1IF 4.2

Eye protection was almost never worn by patients who suffered ophthalmic trauma.

Ophthalmic Trauma: An Overlooked Global Cause of Preventable Blindness and Disability.

Rupesh Agrawal … Asia Pacific Ophthalmic Trauma Society (APOTS) Taskforce for the Prevention of Blindness and Disability from Ophthalmic Trauma

American journal of ophthalmology · May 2026 · Q1 in Ophthalmology

Purpose

Ophthalmic trauma is a substantial yet overlooked public health challenge, pertinent across all age groups, geographies, and socioeconomic statuses.

Methods

8238 patients with clinical evidence of ophthalmic trauma from 32 tertiary centers across 12 countries.

n = 8238 patients

Results

99.0%

checked for protective eyewear at injury - nearly all patients had none on

n = 8238 patients

More results

In this 8238-patient cohort, 78.5% were male and the mean age was 31.4 years.

Closed-globe injuries accounted for 56.9% of cases, whereas open-globe injuries comprised 34.0% of cases.

Thirty percent had a final BCVA worse than 6/60 and 7.0% had no light perception.

More results

More eye injuries occurred at home than elsewhere (38.2%), followed by the workplace (19.4%) and road traffic accidents (8.8%).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

This perspective calls for a shift in framing, for ophthalmic trauma not to be treated as an isolated clinical issue but prioritized as a preventable public health concern.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Opportunities, from strengthened legislation and enforcement to heightened community awareness and system-level preparedness, are further outlined to reduce the burden of ophthalmic trauma and enhance care.

Ophthalmic Trauma: An Overlooked Global Cause of Preventable Blindness and Disability.

Ophthalmic Trauma: An Overlooked Global Cause of Preventable Blindness and Disability.

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