Characteristics of Open Globe Injuries in the United States from 2006 to 2014

Abstract

Importance: Open globe injuries can lead to substantial visual morbidity and lifelong sequelae. Interventions to reduce the burden of open globe injuries in the United States require a better understanding of these injuries through well-designed epidemiologic investigations. Objective: To examine the incidence, common injury mechanisms, and economic burden of open globe injuries in the United States. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective, cross-sectional study of US nationwide emergency department (ED) data assessed all ED visits of patients with a primary diagnosis of open globe injury in the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2014. Data analysis was performed from August 29, 2018, to November 11, 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures: Annual incidence of open globe injuries by age, sex, mechanism of injury, and concomitant diagnosis, as well as median charges associated with open globe injuries and variables associated with hospitalization. Results: A total of 124989 ED visits for open globe injuries were assessed, with an incidence of 4.49 per 100000 population in the United States from 2006 to 2014 (mean [SD] age of study participants, 37.7 [22.5] years; 94078 [75.3%] male). The incidence was highest in 2006 (5.88 per 100000 population) and decreased by 0.3% per month between 2006 and 2014 (incidence rate ratio, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.99-0.99; P