Epidemiology of Sports-Related Eye Injuries in the United States

Abstract

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.

Gun trauma and ophthalmic outcomes

“…In a Finnish study of 202 children's eye injuries, 9% of patients were left with a permanent disability; guns, fireworks, tools, and pellet guns were found to be the most dangerous objects. 6 Haring et al 7 found that among sports-related eye injuries in the United States, activities involving projectiles pose the greatest risk for visual impairment in the short term, although in their study long-term outcomes were unavailable.…”

Pediatric Sports- and Recreation-Related Eye Injuries Treated in US Emergency Departments

“…Consistent with previous studies, this study found basketball, baseball and softball, and nonpowder guns to be the most common sports and recreation activities and equipment associated with pediatric eye injury. 7,8 According to the National Eye Institute, the sports with the highest rate of eye injuries are baseball and softball, ice hockey, racquet sports, and basketball. 10 In this study, basketball accounted for the largest proportion of patients with subconjunctival hemorrhage and corneal abrasion.…”

“…6 Basketball, baseball and softball, and football, in particular, are commonly associated with eye injury. 7,8 Although sports-and recreationrelated eye injuries are not typically life-threatening, they can result in significant morbidity, including vision loss. Injury is one of the most common causes of monocular blindness, and ∼7% of eye injury patients will have severe vision impairment.…”

Soccer Injuries in Children and Adolescents

“…A recent study revealed that soccer accounted for almost 7% of all ocular trauma. 117 Approximately 90% of serious eye injuries are preventable through use of appropriate protective eyewear. 118 The AAP and the American Academy of Ophthalmology classify soccer as a moderate-risk sport and strongly recommend that all young participants wear eye protection that meets the American Society for Testing and Materials standard F803, 119 which specifies that protective eyewear be made of polycarbonate, impact-resistant plastic and be worn by all athletes who are functionally monocular or who have a history of major eye surgery or trauma.…”