Harrison L, Yee P, Sundararajan M, Ding L, Feng S. Local Firework Restrictions and Ocular Trauma.
JAMA Ophthalmol 2024;
142:33-38. [PMID:
38095891 PMCID:
PMC10722385 DOI:
10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2023.5698]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Importance
Fireworks can cause vision-threatening injuries, but the association of local legislation with the mitigation of these injuries is unclear.
Objective
To evaluate the odds of firework-related ocular trauma among residents of areas where fireworks are permitted vs banned.
Design, Setting, and Participants
This case-control study was conducted at a level 1 trauma center in Seattle, Washington, among 230 patients presenting with ocular trauma in the 2 weeks surrounding the Independence Day holiday, spanning June 28 to July 11, over an 8-year period (2016-2022).
Exposures
Firework ban status of patient residence.
Main Outcomes and Measures
Odds of firework-related injuries among residents of areas where fireworks are legal vs where they are banned, calculated as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs.
Results
Of 230 consultations for ocular trauma during the study period, 94 patients (mean [SD] age, 25 [14] years; 86 male patients [92%]) sustained firework-related injuries, and 136 (mean [SD] age, 43 [23] years; 104 male patients [77%]) sustained non-firework-related injuries. The odds of firework-related ocular trauma were higher among those living in an area where fireworks were legal compared with those living in an area where fireworks were banned (OR, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.2-3.5]; P = .01). In addition, the odds of firework injuries were higher for patients younger than 18 years (OR, 3.1 [95% CI, 1.7-5.8]; P < .001) and for male patients (OR, 3.3 [95% CI, 1.5-7.1]; P = .004). Firework injuries were more likely to be vision threatening (54 of 94 [57%]) compared with non-firework-related injuries (54 of 136 [40%]; OR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.2-3.5]; P = .01).
Conclusions and Relevance
This case-control study suggests that the odds of firework-related ocular trauma were slightly higher among residents of areas where fireworks were legal compared with residents of areas where fireworks were banned. Although these results suggest that local firework bans may be associated with a small reduction in the odds of firework-related ocular trauma, additional studies are warranted to assess what actions might lead to greater reductions.
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