Abstract
Purpose :
This paper investigates the epidemiology of nonpowder firearm-related (NPF) eye injuries in the United States (US) from 2013 through 2022.
Methods :
The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database reports data on individual consumer product-associated Emergency Department (ED) visits from 100 participating US EDs. The NEISS algorithm uses cases from these 100 EDs to extrapolate a national estimate for the more than 5,000 US EDs. We retrospectively queried the NEISS on NPF-related eye injuries in all age groups in 2013-2022. We collected data on diagnosis, mechanism of injury, product type (airsoft guns vs. pellet gun, vs. paintball guns, vs. BB gun) and demographical trends.
Results :
The NEISS query yielded 518 reported ED cases of NPF-related eye injuries. In the NEISS algorithm, this extrapolated to an estimated 16,756 95% CI [12767, 20744] ED visits for NPF-related eye injuries in the study period (Table 1). In 2013-2022, the rates of NPF-related eye injuries decreased overall and for children; the rates increased for adults, peaking in 2022. Most cases occurred in children [<18 years of age] (73%). Most patients were male (89%); 38% were White, 33% not specified, 19% Black. Most injuries stemmed from BB guns (60%) and pellet guns (17%), were caused by another person (65%), and involved direct shots (47%) or projectile ricochet (43%). The leading ocular diagnoses were contusions/abrasions (41%), unspecified eye trauma (20%), foreign body (10%) and hyphema (9%). Most patients were treated and released from the ED (81%).
Conclusions :
In 2013-2022, most NPF-related eye injuries occurred in males and were caused by BB guns. The rates of eye injuries increased in adults and decreased overall and in children. The overall decrease in rates was likely driven by the decreasing trend in children, the age group most vulnerable to NPF-related eye injuries. Federally mandated age restrictions on NPF use and purchase, consistent state-level legislation requiring protective equipment, and improved education on the risks and appropriate use of NPFs are necessary to lower the rates of NPF-related eye injuries in all age groups.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.