Three groups of ocular trauma patients were studied in two hospitals in Baghdad city, in a cross-sectional health survey : (1) all the ocular trauma patients attending the ophthalmic consultation clinic of Al-Yarmook Hospital during March 1997, [179 ocular trauma patients, out of the 1128 ophthalmic patients attending there]. (2) all the ocular trauma patients attending the minor operative theaters of Ibn Al-Haytham Hospital during September 1997, [250 ocular trauma patients out of the 778 ophthalmic patients attending there], and (3) all the ocular trauma patients admitted to Ibn Al-Haytham Hospital during 30th Aug -10th Oct.[122ocular trauma patients out of 605 ophthalmic patients admitted there]. Data were collected using a detailed questionnaire, and utilizing the results of clinical examinations and investigations of the ophthalmic surgeon responsible for the care the respective patients. Results revealed that ocular trauma patients form a considerable proportion of ophthalmic patients utilizing health resources in the hospitals under study, and that one out of every five ophthalmic patients utilizing health resources is an ocular trauma victim. Projected or thrown rocks and stones were the commonest injurious agent in pediatric ocular trauma patients, playing was the commonest activity during which ocular trauma happened. In adult ocular trauma patients, projectile (flying) foreign bodies were the commonest injurious agent among adults, and working for income was the commonest activity during which ocular trauma happened. Washing the eye with clean water following trauma was the commonest first aid measure among ocular trauma patients. The patients themselves, were the commonest providers of first aid measures among adult patients, while the patients' mothers were the commonest providers measures among pediatric ocular trauma patients. In the outpatient group of the study, corneal and conjunctival foreign bodies were the commonest diagnosis, penetrating eye injuries were the commonest among the inpatients; foreign body removal and surgical repair of eye injuries were the commonest types of management respectively. The study recommended that prevention of ocular trauma should receive more attention from the community, increasing public awareness of ocular trauma, and educating the public to avoid them. Further studies can fill gaps in the present state of knowledge regarding this subject.