American Academy of Ophthalmology's Eye Injury Snapshot Begins
The Eye Injury Snapshot is an annual study conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma to identify the nature and prevalence of eye injuries. It has been conducted each year since 2004. This year's Eye Injury Snapshot will be held May 16 to 23, 2010. Ophthalmologists are asked to report all eye injuries that occur during this week to a data base. Results are used to educate the public.
Last year, 627 completed questionnaires were received. Most of the findings were consistent with the 2008 results, though results showed an increase in injuries to children over previous years.
Here are last year's results:
- 75% of the injuries reported were to males.
- 44%
of the injuries sustained were to people between the ages of 18 to 45.
Nearly one in five reported injuries were to people 12 years of age or
younger (17.8%), and 8% were to people 65 or older.
- 48% of
reported eye injuries occurred in the home, nearly a third of which
(29%) were caused by play or sports. More than one in five at-home
injuries were due to home repair or power tools.
- Among
injuries at home, almost one third (30%) were in the living areas of the
home (e.g., the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living or family room). The
most common place of injury was the yard or garden (40%).
- Accidents
were reported as the cause of 80% of the injuries. Assaults accounted
for slightly more than 10% of eye injuries.
- 77% of injury
victims were not wearing eyewear.
- Drugs and/or alcohol
were involved in less than 5% of reported injuries.
- Among
injuries involving motor vehicle crashes, 53% of patients were
reportedly not wearing seat belts.
- 44% of the injuries
occurred to patients’ right eyes only, 39% sustained injuries to the
left eye.
- 56% of treatments were provided in the ophthalmologist’s office, while 32% was provided in a hospital emergency department/emergency room.
- Generally, the prognoses were good.
Ophthalmologists reported 77% of the patients who sustained eye
injuries were expected to fully recover, while another 11% would
experience mild impairment.
- Most ophthalmologists felt
that the eye injuries they examined and treated could have been avoided
if the patients had worn appropriate protective eyewear.
- 55% thought that the injuries could have been avoided with patient education.
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