Abstract
This study determines the impact on the functionality associated with visual loss (VFIP) in people with severe ocular trauma (SOT) caused by kinetic impact projectiles used in police crowd control through a prioritization tool in people admitted to a rehabilitation program in Santiago de Chile from December 02, 2019, to November 13, 2020. A cross-sectional and descriptive study of SOT victims (N=85), average age 31.4 ± 11.9 is used. The data were recorded through a new nine-item screening instrument for assessment and prioritization of rehabilitation created for this emergency scenario. Results indicate the impact of the use of kinetic weapons resulted in monocular blindness in the majority of those affected (n=68; 80.0%). There were extreme difficulties in the performance of productive tasks (occupational and/or educational) (n=42; 49.4%) and the pursuit of hobbies and pastimes (n=23; 27.1%), as well as a high difficulty in adapting to changes in brightness (n=29; 34.1%) and handling objects accurately (n=22; 25.9%). We conclude the use of kinetic weapons for crowd control resulted in high and extreme VFIP and, in most cases, monocular blindness, causing major difficulties in work, study, and development of hobbies and pastimes in the affected population, highlighting the urgent need for effective rehabilitative care. The use of kinetic weapons for crowd control contravenes international goals, policies, and plans set by the WHO. It is essential to ban the use of these weapons in Chile and worldwide, as well as to revise police protocols for crowd control.
Presenters
Miguel Angel Campos GarridoProfessor, Medical Technology, University of Chile, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Chile
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2024 Special Focus—Health for Democracy, Democracy for Health
KEYWORDS
Ocular Trauma, Projectiles, Bullets, Rehabilitation, Public health, Visual-functional impact
