IMPORTANCE Determining the epidemiology of eye-related emergency department (ED) visits on a national level can assist policymakers in appropriate allocation of resources. OBJECTIVE To study ED visits related to ocular conditions for all age groups across the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Nationally representative data from the US Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) were used to analyze ED visits from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2011 (6 years). All patients with eye problems presenting to EDs across the United States were eligible for inclusion. A weighted count of 11 929 955 ED visits were categorized as possibly emergent (emergent), unlikely to be emergent (nonemergent), or could not be determined. Data were analyzed from March 1 to May 30, 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Population-based incidence rates of eye-related ED visits, incidence rates of eye injuries, relative proportions of emergent vs nonemergent eye-related ED visits among different age groups, and independent factors associated with emergent vs nonemergent visits. RESULTS From 2006 to 2011, 11 929 955 ED visits (male patients, 54.2%; mean [SD] age, 31 [22] years) for ocular problems across the United States were categorized as emergent (41.2%), nonemergent (44.3%), or could not determine (14.5%). Corneal abrasions (13.7%) and foreign body in the external eye (7.5%) were the leading diagnoses in the emergent category. More than 4 million visits were for conjunctivitis (28.0%), subconjunctival hemorrhages (3.0%), and styes (3.8%). Emergent visits were significantly more likely to occur among males (odds ratio [OR], 2.00; 95% CI, 2.00-2.01), patients in the highest income quartile (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.46-1.49), older patients (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 2.38-2.44), and patients with private insurance (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.28-1.30). Mean annual inflation-adjusted charges for all eye-related ED visits totaled $2.0 billion. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Across the United States, nonemergent conditions accounted for almost half of all eye-related ED visits. Interventions to facilitate management of these cases outside the ED could make ED resources more available for truly emergent ophthalmic and medical issues.

IMPORTANCE Determining the national epidemiologic trends of chemical ocular burns can assist physicians and policy makers in appropriate allocation of resources for treatment and prevention. OBJECTIVE To describe the epidemiologic trends and risk factors for chemical burns of the eye.

IMPORTANCE Ocular trauma can lead to lifelong sequelae, and sports-related ocular injuries have been shown to disproportionately affect the young. Studies quantifying and characterizing the incidence and type of injuries seen with sports-related ocular trauma may be useful for resource utilization, training, and prevention efforts.OBJECTIVE To examine the emergency department (ED) burden of sports-related ocular trauma in the United States.DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, cross-sectional study examined the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, containing data from approximately 30 million ED visits annually at more than 900 hospitals nationwide, from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2013, to determine factors associated with sports-related ocular trauma. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESAnnual incidence of sports-related ocular trauma, broken down by age, sex, mechanism of injury, and related activity, as well as factors associated with short-term impaired vision.RESULTS During the study period, 120 847 individuals (mean age, 22.3 years [95% CI, 21.9-22.7]; 96 872 males, 23 963 females, and 12 with missing data) presented with sports-related ocular trauma, which was the primary diagnosis in 85 961 patients. Injuries occurred most commonly among males (69 849 [81.3%]; 95% CI, 80.6%-81.9%) and occurred most frequently as a result of playing basketball (22.6%; 95% CI, 21.7%-23.6%), playing baseball or softball (14.3%; 95% CI, 13.7%-14.9%), and shooting an air gun (11.8%; 95% CI, 10.8%-12.8%). Odds of presentation to the ED with impaired vision were greatest for paintball and air gun injuries relative to football-related injuries (odds ratio, 4.75; 95% CI, 2.21-10.19 and 3.71; 95% CI, 2.34-5.88, respectively; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEIn our study, approximately 30 000 individuals presented annually to EDs in the United States with sports-related eye injuries; in more than 70% of these cases, eye injuries were the primary diagnosis. Activities involving projectiles pose the greatest risk for visual impairment in the short term, although long-term outcomes were unavailable.