Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate occupant characteristics and risk factors associated with motor vehicle crash (MVC)-related eye injuries presenting to United States (US) emergency departments (EDs).
Methods:
Retrospective cross-sectional study utilizing the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) from 2001 to 2008 to assess the risk of presenting to an ED with a MVC-associated eye injury in relation to specific occupant characteristics, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, disposition, and occupant (driver/passenger) status.
Results:
From 2001 to 2008, an estimated 75,028 MVC-associated eye injuries presented to US EDs. The annual rate of ED-treated eye injuries resulting from MVCs declined during this study period. Males accounted for 59.6% of eye injuries (95% confidence interval [CI] 56.2%-63.0%). Rates of eye injury were highest among 15-19 year olds (5.8/10,000 people; CI 4.3-6.0/10,000) and among African Americans (4.5/10,000 people; CI 2.0-7.1/10,000), while the lowest rates occurred among 0-4 year olds (0.8/10,000 people; CI 0.4-1.2/10,000) and >65 years olds (1.0/10,000 people; CI 0.7-1.3/10,000). Drivers of motor vehicles accounted for 62.2% (CI 58.3%-66.1%) of ED-treated MVC eye injuries when occupant status was known. Contusion/Abrasion was the most common diagnosis (61.5%; CI 56.5%-66.4%). Among licensed US drivers, 16-24 year olds had the highest risk (3.7/10,000 licensed drivers; CI 2.6-4.8/10,000).
Conclusions:
This study reports a recent decline in the annual incidence of ED-treated MVC-associated eye injuries. The risk of MVC eye injury is greatest among males, 15 to 19 year olds, and African Americans, and is lowest among the elderly and 0 to 4 year olds.
Keywords: 742 trauma •
463 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence