Cost analysis of military eye injuries in fiscal years 1988-1998

Abstract

Army, Navy, and Air Force safety center ground eye injuries were evaluated from fiscal year 1988 through fiscal year 1998. The U.S. Army Safety Center data revealed that the average Army military eye injury mishap caused a loss of 6.1 days from work, at a cost averaging $9,724. The U.S. Navy Safety Center data showed that the average Navy military eye injury mishap caused a loss of 5.9 days from work, at a cost averaging $4,222. The Air Force Safety Center data revealed that the average Air Force eye injury mishap caused a loss of 4.7 days from work, at a cost averaging $3,196. Comparing safety center data with Defense Medical Surveillance System data exposed an under-reporting of safety center data by at least 250%. To improve accurate meaningful data collection, an automated eye injury collection system should be initiated.