Abstract
Purpose :
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a leading cause of visits to the emergency department (ED), estimated in up to 35% cases. Literature suggests that orbital fractures are highly suggestive of domestic violence injuries and can often go underreported. It is important for emergency room physicians and ophthalmologists to be able to recognize ocular injuries caused by IPV. The aim of our study is to determine the epidemiologic trends of IPV related-ocular injuries presenting to the emergency department.
Methods :
The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System-All Injury Program (AIP) (NEISS–AIP) was queried for injuries specifically involving the eyeball for the years 2006 to 2016. IPV was defined by sexual or other assault conducted by a spouse or a partner. Cases were weighted per the SUDAAN protocol, and statistical analysis was conducted with weighted data for frequency of injury by gender. Frequencies of race, incident locale, disposition from ED, reason for assault, precipitating injury, diagnosis, hospital size, and treatment month were conducted.
Results :
Females were more likely to experience ocular injury as a result of IPV than males (n=18748 vs n=6667) at a younger average age (32.8 vs 36.7). By race, Black males and females were more likely than their white counterparts to have ocular injury as a result of IPV (black men 47.5% vs white men 18.1%, black females 35.5% vs white females 27.2%). The most common ocular injury in both genders involved ocular contusion/abrasions (males 43.4% vs females 53.4%), and subjects were most likely to be treated and released home. In males, the precipitating cause of injury was either being struck by an object or injury by fire (struck 66.1% vs fire 30.6%), whereas females were overwhelming injured by a striking injury (90.4%). Both males and females were most likely to be diagnosed with a contusion or abrasion injury.
Conclusions :
Females are more likely to present with ocular injuries as a result of IPV, especially younger females. However, our study shows that men can also be victim to IPV, and are more likely to present with ocular injuries due to fire or burns as a result of intimate partner violence. The Black population is at higher risk of intimate partner violence. Consideration of IPV when a patient presents with a contusion or abrasion injury is important as IPV patients are likely to present to the ER again due to abuse.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.