Table 2.
Distribution of characteristics of cases (n = 525)
| No (%) | Among severe* injuries (%) | |
| Occupation | ||
| Farmer | 136 (25.9) | 97 (27.3) |
| Domestic work | 113 (21.5) | 85 (23.9) |
| Student | 85 (16.2) | 47 (13.2) |
| Day/unskilled labour | 55 (10.5) | 40 (11.3) |
| Private service (skilled, salaried, factory) | 31 (5.9) | 19 (5.4) |
| Business (shopkeeper, vendor) | 30 (5.7) | 19 (5.4) |
| Literate (yes) | ||
| Males | 174 (50.9) | 120 (51.3) |
| Females | 57 (31.2) | 37 (30.6) |
| Type of injury | ||
| Lacerating | 385 (73.3) | 310 (87.3) |
| Blunt | 98 (18.7) | 20 (5.6) |
| Small penetrating (<1/3 corneal diameter) | 18 (3.4) | 12 (3.4) |
| Large penetrating (>1/3 corneal diameter) | 8 (1.5) | 8 (2.2) |
| Chemical burn | 7 (1.3) | 3 (0.8) |
| Location of injury occurrence | ||
| Home | 168 (32.0) | 102 (28.7) |
| Fields/agriculture | 144 (27.4) | 93 (26.2) |
| Road | 72 (13.7) | 44 (12.4) |
| Factory | 44 (8.4) | 39 (11.0) |
| Construction site | 14 (2.7) | 12 (3.4) |
| Place of treatment first sought | ||
| Self/family/neighbour/shaman | 52 (9.9) | 35 (9.9) |
| Paramedical† | 218 (41.6) | 145 (41.0) |
| NNIPS primary eye care centre | 254 (48.5) | 174 (49.2) |
| VA distribution, initial | (n = 469) | (n = 328) |
| Normal | 300 (64.0) | 184 (56.1) |
| VA<20/60 | 124 (26.4) | 101 (30.8) |
| VA<20/400 | 45 (9.6) | 43 (13.1) |
| VA distribution, follow up | (n = 392) | (n = 272) |
| Normal | 330 (84.2) | 219 (80.5) |
| VA<20/60 | 44 (11.2) | 36 (13.2) |
| VA<20/400 | 18 (4.6) | 17 (6.2) |
*Severe injury (n = 355) was defined as deep (>1/3 corneal thickness) foreign body, corneal ulcer, corneal rupture, corneal blood stain, cataract, dislocated lens, iridodialysis, iris prolapse, scleral rupture, hyphaema, macula/retinal damage.
†“Paramedical” includes care sought at local pharmacy, local medicine shops or clinics with medical or paramedical workers, health posts, and non-eye care hospital.