Prevalence and risk factors of ocular trauma in an urban south-east Asian population: the Singapore Malay Eye Study

Purpose:  To describe the prevalence and risk factors of ocular trauma in an urban Asian population.
Methods:  A population-based survey of 3280 (78.7% response rate) Malay people aged 40–80 years residing in Singapore was conducted in 2004–2006. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to ascertain a history of ocular trauma, defined as any eye injury requiring medical attention from a doctor.
Results:  Of the 3264 participants, 149 (5.0%, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 4.1–6.0%) reported a history of ocular trauma. Of those, 30.2% had trauma from a blunt object, 33.6% from a sharp object, and 22.1% from chemical burns. After adjusting for age and sex, men had a higher prevalence of ocular trauma than women (8.3% vs. 2.1%, age-adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.7, CI 3.1–7.1), and younger persons had a higher risk of ocular trauma (per year increase in age, OR 0.98, CI 0.96–0.99). Consumption of alcohol was associated with higher likelihood of having ocular injury (OR 4.3, CI 2.2–8.4).
Conclusions:  One in 20 persons in this urban south-east Asian population had a history of ocular trauma. Younger persons, men and consumption of alcohol were risk factors for ocular trauma.