AN EYE FOR AN EYE

During conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000s, eye trauma has increase in frequency and studies have been conducted on patient outcomes. Both Afghanistan civilians and United States military members are targeted with shrapnel laden bombs and can receive grievous wounds, but they generally have different outcomes. 

United States military members are usually injured on the battlefield. With battlefield healthcare focused on stabilizing a patient and transport, military personnel are treated to as soon as possible. Military personnel are more likely to have damage to both eyes, but do not necessarily need removal. They are transferred away from conflict to recuperate and heal, but the same opportunities are not alliable for locals. 

Afghanistan civilians are injured when the battlefield comes to them. If they are lucky enough, civilians will be able to receive quality first aid, have easy fast transport, be in good general health, and not have a severe injury. These factors influence the outcome for war-injured eyes, and none of these factors are in favor of Afghanistan civilians. most civilians with eye injuries require removal of the affected eye. 

There are a multitude of factors that can affect the outcome of eye trauma during war times, but access to resources and distance from conflict will decrease the chance of serious permanent eye damage and further injury. 

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Sources: 

Biehl J. W. (2001). Military and civilian penetrating eye trauma: anesthetic implications. AANA journal, 69(1), 31–37. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11759136/  

Farrahmand, M. M., Shams, N., & Sharif, M. K. (2000). War injuries in northern afghanistan. Community eye health, 13(35), 46–47. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1705973/  

Niedringhaus, A., & Taylor, A. (2013). Afghanistan 25. Afghanistan: Seen Through the Lens of Anja Niedringhaus. The Atlantic. Retrieved March 2023, from https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2013/11/afghanistan-seen-through-the-lens-of-anja-niedringhaus/100621/?fb_action_ids=10203123733761758&fb_action_types=og.recommends. 

Weichel, E. D., Colyer, M. H., Ludlow, S. E., Bower, K. S., & Eiseman, A. S. (2008). Combat ocular trauma visual outcomes during operations iraqi and enduring freedom. Ophthalmology, 115(12), 2235–2245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2008.08.033