Annette K. Hoskin

Assessment of fogging resistance of anti-fog personal eye protection

The propensity for occupational eye protectors to fog in warm and moist conditions is often offered as a reason by workers not to wear occupational eye protection even where mandatory eye protection areas have been specified. A study of eye protection practices in the New South Wales coal mining industry identified the number one issue in underground coal mine conditions as being fogging of eye safety wear. Conventional anti‐fog treatments and cleaners were considered by the miners as completely inadequate in these conditions. At the time of the study claims were being made for a new generation of lens treatments. These merited evaluation. Spectacles and goggles claimed to be fog resistant were obtained from manufacturers and suppliers and subjected to the test set out in BS EN 168:1995 and the compliance criterion of BS EN 166:1996. Some lenses claimed to be fog resistant failed the requirement, some new technology lenses showed arguably superior performance but failed the criterion of the standard. Modifications to the test procedure of BS EN 168 and acceptance criteria of BS EN 166 are proposed.

Spectacle-related eye injuries, spectacle-impact performance and eye protection

The aim was to review the prevalence of spectacle‐related ocular trauma and the performance of currently available spectacle materials and to identify the risk factors associated with spectacle‐related ocular trauma. A literature review was conducted using Medline, Embase and Google with the keywords ‘eyeglasses’ OR ‘spectacles’ AND ‘ocular injury’ / ‘eye injury’/ ‘eye trauma’ / ‘ocular trauma’. Articles published prior to 1975 were excluded from this review because of advances in spectacle lens technology and Food and Drug Administration legislative changes requiring impact resistance of all prescription spectacle lenses in the United States. Six hundred and ninety‐five individual ocular traumas, for which spectacles contributed to or were the main cause of injury, were identified in the literature. Eye injuries occurred when spectacles were worn in sports, in which medium‐ to high‐impact energies were exerted from balls, racquets or bats and/or as a result of a collision with another player. Frame, lens design and product material choice were found to be associated with ocular injury, with polycarbonate lenses cited as the material of choice in the literature. International, regional and national standards for spectacle lenses had a wide range of impact requirements for prescription spectacle lenses, sports eye protection and occupational eye protection. Spectacle‐related injury represents a small but preventable cause of ocular injury. With the increasing numbers of spectacle wearers and calls to spend more time outdoors to reduce myopia, spectacle wearers need to be made aware of the potential risks associated with wearing spectacles during medium‐ to high‐risk activities. At particular risk are those prone to falls, the functionally one‐eyed, those who have corneal thinning or have had previous eye surgery or injury. With increased understanding of specific risk factors, performance guidelines can be developed for prescription spectacle eye‐protection requirements.The aim was to review the prevalence of spectacle-related ocular trauma and the performance of currently available spectacle materials and to identify the risk factors associated with spectacle-related ocular trauma. A literature review was conducted using Medline, Embase and Google with the keywords ‘eyeglasses’ OR ‘spectacles’ AND ‘ocular injury’ / ‘eye injury’/ ‘eye trauma’ / ‘ocular trauma’. Articles published prior to 1975 were excluded from this review because of advances in spectacle lens technology and Food and Drug Administration legislative changes requiring impact resistance of all prescription spectacle lenses in the United States. Six hundred and ninety-five individual ocular traumas, for which spectacles contributed to or were the main cause of injury, were identified in the literature. Eye injuries occurred when spectacles were worn in sports, in which medium- to high-impact energies were exerted from balls, racquets or bats and/or as a result of a collision with another player. Frame, lens design and product material choice were found to be associated with ocular injury, with polycarbonate lenses cited as the material of choice in the literature. International, regional and national standards for spectacle lenses had a wide range of impact requirements for prescription spectacle lenses, sports eye protection and occupational eye protection. Spectacle-related injury represents a small but preventable cause of ocular injury. With the increasing numbers of spectacle wearers and calls to spend more time outdoors to reduce myopia, spectacle wearers need to be made aware of the potential risks associated with wearing spectacles during medium- to high-risk activities. At particular risk are those prone to falls, the functionally one-eyed, those who have corneal thinning or have had previous eye surgery or injury. With increased understanding of specific risk factors, performance guidelines can be developed for prescription spectacle eye-protection requirements.

Sports-related eye and adnexal injuries in the Western Australian paediatric population

To identify the causes of sports‐related eye and adnexal injuries in children in Perth, Western Australia, to determine which sporting activities pose the highest risk of eye and adnexal injury to children.

Eye injury prevention for the pediatric population

AbstractEach year an estimated 3.3 to 5.7 million pediatric eye injuries occur worldwide. It is widely reported that 90% of ocular injuries are preventable. Our aim was to identify legislation and policies, education, and mandatory eye protection strategies that have successfully contributed to reducing rates of children’s eye injuries. A literature search was conducted using the terms “pediatric” or “children” or “adolescent” and “ocular” or “eye” and “protection” or “injury prevention.” Articles were retrieved based on titles and abstracts and assessed in the context of our research question. Strategies identified aimed at reducing ocular trauma fell into 3 broad categories: legislation and policies, education, and personal eye protection. Policies including restrictions on the sale and supply of certain consumer products, mandatory vehicle seatbelts, and laminated windscreens in vehicles have assisted in reducing children’s eye injuries. Educational tools aimed at children and their caregivers have been effective in changing attitudes to eye health and safety. Effective pediatric eye injury prevention systems require a multifactorial approach combining legislation, policies, standards, education, and personal eye protection to limit exposure to ocular hazards. A paucity of standardized measurement and lack of funding have limited advances in the field of children’s eye injury prevention. Improved eye injury surveillance and research funding along with collaboration with health care providers are important components for strategies to prevent pediatric ocular trauma.

Animal-inflicted ocular and adnexal injuries in children: a systematic review

Eye injury remains the leading cause of monocular blindness in children despite 90% of injuries being potentially preventable. Children interact with animals in a variety of situations, and the associated dangers may be underestimated. Animals are capable of causing ocular and adnexal injuries that are cosmetically and visually devastating. We examine the current literature regarding the nature and severity of animal-inflicted ocular and adnexal injuries in children.

Ultraviolet protection in spectacle and sunglass lenses: claims vs performance

The need for ultraviolet protection in the natural environment has become a popular topic in the media, particularly when considered in conjunction with the depleting ozone layer and ozone hole(s). Public apprehension has been fuelled by sunglass manufacturers, distributors and importers in their attempts to sell more of their product. This has led, among other things, to the marking of sunglasses with claims of 95 per cent or 100 per cent UV protection. It has also led to a proposal for marking sunglasses with a code of Environmental Protection Factor (EPF) akin to the Sun Protection Factors of sunscreens. In this method the equivalent of a sun protection factor of 400+ is given the maximum rating of 10. In a previous report from this study, we surveyed available sunglass data to assess the level of UVR protection afforded and compliance with the sunglass standards in 253 sunglasses. We men surveyed the additional ultraviolet claims on 81 pairs of commercially available sunglasses sampled by the Federal Bureau of Consumer Affairs. We found that the great majority of sunglasses passed the various standards and the majority would have rated 10 on the EPF scale. However, a number of sunglasses did not meet the claims of UV protection placed on them by the suppliers. The suppliers are, therefore, tending to fall short in their self‐applied claims rather than the requirements of sunglass standards. We also dyed a set of piano untinted lenses using commercially available dyes and purchased lenses claimed to be treated to include 100 per cent protection to 400 nm. Judging by the performance of the lenses, there was some considerable variation in the interpretation placed on the term ‘UV 400’. The dyes fell well short, although extending the dyeing time can produce lenses with low transmittance at 400 nm. Some of the variation in claims may well arise from variations between national standards and the definition of ultraviolet wavelength limits. We hope that work can recommence on the ISO standard to enable the rationalisation of the standards and claims. (Clin Exp Optom 1993; 76.4: 136–140)

Severe alkali burns from beer line cleaners warrant mandatory safety guidelines.

TO THE EDITOR: Unfortunately, the research performed by White and colleagues1 appears to be flawed by selection bias. This is the result of their failure to survey specialists in general medicine, who regularly make decisions on the withholding and withdrawing of life-sustaining medical treatment. Therefore, the findings of the survey may not accurately reflect real legal understanding among the specialists in our health system most frequently required to make these kinds of decisions. General physicians’ patients frequently require careful evaluation of any pre-existing advance care directives, and discussion with statutory health attorneys relating to decisions regarding the provision or withholding of lifesustaining treatment.

The epidemiology of Open Globe Injuries presenting to a tertiary referral eye hospital in Australia

BACKGROUND Open globe injuries (OGIs) account for 44% of the cost of ocular trauma within Australia. It is estimated that 90% of ocular trauma is preventable. However, there have been few epidemiological studies within Australia that have identified groups at risk of OGIs specifically. The aim of our study was to review the epidemiology of OGIs presenting to a tertiary referral eye hospital in Australia. METHODS The Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT) system was used to classify injuries as globe ruptures, penetrating eye injuries (PEIs), intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) or perforating injuries. Demographic data, past ocular history, mechanism of trauma, ocular injuries, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before and after treatment were recorded. RESULTS The 205 OGIs included 80 globe ruptures, 71 PEIs, 48 IOFBs and six perforating injuries. Falls predominated in older age groups compared to the other mechanisms of injury (p<0.0001). A fall was responsible for 33 globe ruptures and 82% of these had a history of previous intraocular surgery. Globe rupture and perforating injuries had poorer visual outcomes (p<0.05), consistent with previous studies. Alcohol was implicated in 20 cases of OGI, with 11 of these due to assault. PEIs and IOFBs commonly occurred while working with metal. BCVA was significantly worse following removal of an intraocular foreign body. We found presenting BCVA to be a good predictor of BCVA at the time of discharge. CONCLUSIONS The causes of OGI varied in association with age, with older people mostly incurring their OGI through falls and younger adults through assault and working with metal. Globe ruptures occurring after a fall often had a history of intraocular surgery. The initial BCVA is useful for non-ophthalmologists who are unfamiliar with the ocular trauma score to help predict the BCVA following treatment.

Paediatric ocular and adnexal injuries requiring hospitalisation in Western Australia

The aim was to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of ocular and adnexal injuries requiring hospitalisation in children in Perth, Western Australia.

The Sydney siege: courage, compassion and connectedness

Premature deflagration can also cause injury to the operator.5 As these devices continue to be used in civilian situations, it is important to remain aware of any potential hazards, to both the operator and bystanders. notifications have fallen dramatically in recent years2 — probably reflecting less exposure of travellers to endemic malaria as a result of significant global improvements in malaria control.3,4