eng Science and Education Publishing American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine 2327-6657 2013-07-30 1 1 66 68 10.12691/ajmsm-1-4-4 AJMSM2013144 article Kehinde Fasasi Monsudi kfmoshood@yahoo.com 1 Abdulkabir Ayansiji Ayanniyi 2 Olasunkanmi Fatai Olatunji 3 Isa AbdulFattah 3 Department of ophthalmology, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria Department of ophthalmology, College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Nigeria Department of ophthalmology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria Objective: To assess the pattern and aetiological factors for penetrating ocular injuries in a tertiary health facility. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective review of all the cases records of penetrating eye injuries presenting to our eye unit over a period of 6 years. Results: There were 153 cases including 125 (81.7%) males 28 (18.3%) females with age range between 3 months and 85 years. Penetrating eye injury was common in children 0-16 years (42.5%) followed by adults¡¯ ¡Ü 30 years (41.6%). The commonest cause of penetrating ocular injuries was stick/wood (41.2%). Injuries mostly occurred at home (65.4%). Right eye only was involved in 58.2% and both eyes were affected in 2%. Overall visual outcome at last hospital visit showed 14% attained VA of 6/12 or better and 50% had visual acuities worse than 6/60. Poor visual outcome was associated with poor initial visual acuity (p=0.000). Conclusion: Injuries occurred more frequently on weekdays (81%) than weekends. Following the ocular surgery, 3 patients developed endophthalmitis and 10 developed phthisis bulbi. Penetrating eye injury occurs mostly at home and mostly from stick/wood. Prevention of penetrating eye injuries requires parents, caregiver and children education on the danger of penetrating eye injury and improvement in home safety measure. http://pubs.sciepub.com/ajmsm/1/4/4/ajmsm-1-4-4.pdf road traffic accident penetrating eye injury stick/wood