Ocular injuries in commercial fishing workers: a literature review

Abstract

Introduction:

commercial fishing is a dangerous activity which is associated with high morbimortality. However, there are few studies on fishing workers' eye injuries.

Objective:

to identify occupational ocular injuries in commercial fishing and possible related risk and protection factors.

Methods:

literature review on the databases MedLine, LILACS-BIREME, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane through the searching terms "fishing" and "ocular/eye injury". Both were taken into account: full articles available in English, Portuguese or Spanish, published from April 1993 to April 2013, and research involving human beings.

Results:

18 articles from 12 countries were included. Most studies were cross-sectional.

Discussion:

the most frequent injuries were due to excessive solar exposure, such as cataract and senile macular degeneration, and to ocular trauma, mainly perforations by fishhook or by fragments of marine animals. These injuries were associated with risk factors like fish and other seafood handling and long working time. According to the studies, most of the eye injuries related to fishing can be prevented, indicating the need for health promoting policies aimed at the population involved in this activity.

Keywords:
occupational health; fishing industry; ophthalmopathy; commercial fishing; wounds and injuries