title: Motor vehicle crash-associated eye injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are a leading cause of injury in the United States (U.S.). Detailed knowledge of MVC eye injuries presenting to U.S. emergency departments (ED) will aid clinicians in diagnosis and management. The objective of the study was to describe the incidence, risk factors, and characteristics of non-fatal motor vehicle crash-associated eye injuries presenting to U.S. EDs from 2001 to 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cross-sectional study using 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 U.S. 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). 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 U.S. 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 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.
authors.affiliation: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Grayson W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Allison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Linakis
authors.affiliation: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.affiliation: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology