Open globe injuries: Epidemiology, visual and surgical predictive variables, prognostic models, and economic cost analysis

BackgroundOpen globe injuries (OGI) represent a visually and economically devastating cause of vision loss. We examined the epidemiology, predictive variables, prognostic models, and economic cost of surgically managed OGI.MethodsA retrospective tertiary centre study from 2008 to 2018 of 155 consecutive OGI in individuals aged 16 and older was performed. Medical records review, application of Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) and Classification and Regression Tree Analysis (CART) and cost analysis were undertaken. Key outcomes measured were visual acuity, number of operating theatre visits, prognostication using OTS and CART and estimated costs.ResultsYounger males at work with inadequate protective eyewear (89.1%) and falls in the elderly were overrepresented. Inferior visual outcomes were associated with a more severe OTS score, a larger injury zone, increasing age, the presence of retinal detachment, extraocular muscle involvement, intraocular foreign body, and globe rupture (R2 = 0.723, p R2 = 0.0423, p p ConclusionsThe total cost of OGI is immense with young males and the elderly being disproportionately affected. Implementation of targeted government legislation and public health preventative measures may be cost‐effective in ameliorating the significant burden.