Incidence of emergency department-treated eye injury in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

To present the descriptive epidemiology of emergency department-treated eye injury in the United States.

METHODS

Data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Program was used to estimate the number of patients treated in US emergency departments for eye injuries. Eye injury rates were calculated according to age, sex, and race, and characteristics of the injury event were determined.

RESULTS

The rate of emergency department-treated eye injury in the United States is 3.15 per 1000 population (95% confidence interval, 2.66-3.63). Rates were highest among those in their 20s and 30s, among males, and among American Indians and African Americans. The majority of injuries occurred in the home, and contusions and abrasions were the most common types of injury.

CONCLUSION

This study documents the burden of eye injury in the United States and identifies areas wherein future research activities should be directed.