Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the association between specific occupant, collision, and vehicle characteristics and the risk of motor vehicle collision (MVC) related eye injury. Methods: The 1988–2001 National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System (CDS) files were utilized. The CDS is a national probability sample of passenger vehicles involved in police–reported tow–away MVCs. The risk of eye injury was calculated according to specific occupant (e.g., age, seat belt use) and collision (e.g., delta–V [estimated change in velocity], vehicular intrusion) characteristics. The association between eye injury and these characteristics was calculated using risk ratios (RRs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The incidence of eye injuries in MVCs has progressively increased since 1998, paralleling the prevalence of frontal air bag equipped vehicles on the road. Frontal air bag deployment was associated with a statistically significant 2–fold (RR 2.13, 95% CI 1.56–2.91) increased risk of eye injury whereas seat belt use was associated with a 2–fold (RR 2.17, 95% CI 1.89–2.44) reduced eye injury risk. In late model vehicles, frontal air bags are the most common cause of MVC–related eye injury. Older age, female gender, seat position, vehicle weight and collision severity were also associated with eye injury risk. Conclusions: The adverse effect of frontal air bags on the risk of eye injury should be considered against their protective effect for fatal injury. Seat belt use is the most effective means of occupant protection against MVC–related eye injury.
Keywords: trauma • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: biostatistics/epidemiology methodology