Serious eye injuries caused by the civil disturbances in Belfast.

INTRODUCrION Trauma is the commonest cause of eye disease. In the five years up to August 1969, 376 perforating eye injuries were treated in the Eye & Ear Clinic, Royal Victoria Hospital, the main causes being accidents and play in children, and road traffic accidents in adults. Only twenty-one were due to assault, usually with the list or broken glass, one was due to a butt with the head and one with the toe of a boot. Four were due to explosions-two exploding cartridges, one firework and one detonator. These four eyes were lost or rendered sightless. Three eyes were lost due to accidental shotgun injuries, and two were lost when hit by air gun pellets. In contrast, in the year from the 15th August, 1969 till August, 1970, sixteen cases were seriously injured in the civil riots and treated in the Eye & Ear Clinic. Nine were hit by shotgun pellets, three by bullets and four by other missiles or blows. These injuries occurred in rioting on four separate occasions: 13th, 14th and 15th August 1969 in West Belfast; 11th and 12th October 1969 on Shankill Road; 2nd April 1970 at Ballymurphy; 27th and 28th June 1970 in Springfield and Lower Falls areas. It is proposed to describe the injuries and their consequences which took place on the above dates. Excluded are numerous minor contusions, lid injuries, trauma due to chemical burns such as C.S. gas and acid.