45. Jaouni, Z. M. and O'Shea, J. G. Surgical Management of Ophthalmic Trauma due to the Palestinian Intifada. St. John's Hospital, East Jerusalem. Eye 1997; 11: 392-397.

A prospective study was conducted to determine the causes, morbidity and visual outcome of 567 Intifada eye injuries that occurred from December 1987 to December 1993. Overall, the study demonstrates the high rate of morbidity and the poor visual outcome related to Intifada eye injuries. Seventy-five percent of those injured came from the West Bank or East Jerusalem. Male preponderance was 84.7%. Of the 567 cases, 25.2% lost perception of light and 12.6% had vision less than or equal to 6/60. Eighty-six eyes (15.1%) required enucleation. In total, 43.1% of the cases had severe ocular injuries. Rubber or plastic bullets caused 154 injuries and were the most common indication for the enucleation of an eye (90.6%). A literature review is presented on epidemiology of ocular trauma in other communities. The authors conclude that Intifada-related eye injuries are associated with far greater morbidity than non-military eye injuries. Also, military curfews and closures exacerbate the morbidity of eye injuries by prolonging evacuation time.