Epidemiology of Pediatric Open Globe Injury in the United States

Global, regional, and national burdens of intraocular foreign bodies in children and adolescents from 1990 to 2019: a trend analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate trends in global, regional, and national burdens of intraocular foreign bodies among children and adolescents (aged 0 - 19 years) between 1990 and 2019 according to age, sex, and socio-demographic index.

METHODS

This study obtained data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 and evaluated the number of cases, rates per 100,000 persons, and average annual percentage changes among children and adolescents. The annual percentage changes in the incidence and years lived with disability rates across various age groups were investigated using joinpoint software.

RESULTS

For intraocular foreign bodies in children and adolescents, the incidence and year lived with disability rates decreased in all age groups between 1990 and 2019. However, the number of incident cases and years lived with disability increased from 1091.94 [95% uncertainty interval (UI), 610.91-1839.52] and 89,245 (95% UI, 6.65-18.67) in 1990 to 1134.85 (95% UI, 665.01-1867.50) and 92,108 (95% UI, 32,052-192,153) in 2019, respectively. Age was positively correlated with the number of cases, incidence, and years lived with disability rates. However, there were significant decreases in both the incidence and years lived with disability rates among children and adolescents, especially in the 15-18 years age group, males, and most high-income regions. Notably, the incidence and years lived with disability rates were significantly decreased in middle and high-middle socio-demographic index regions but were increased in low and low-middle socio-demographic index regions.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the remarkable progress between 1990 and 2019 in reducing the global burden of intraocular foreign bodies, there has been an increase in the number of cases, with substantial disparity across age groups, sexes, regions, and countries. Our results could inform more effective strategies for reducing the burden among children and adolescents.

Epidemiologic trends of domestic violence-related ocular injuries among pediatric patients: data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample 2008-2017

PURPOSE

To study the epidemiology of all domestic violence (DV)-related ocular injuries among pediatric emergency department (ED) patients in the United States.

METHODS

This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study of isolated children (<18 years of age) with a diagnosis of DV and primary or secondary diagnosis of ocular injuries in the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, 2008-2017. We calculated annual incidence of DV-related ocular injuries and prevalence by demographic variables, including age, sex, and income quartile. Median charges, median length of inpatient hospital stay, and factors associated with hospitalization were also measured.

RESULTS

From 2008 to 2017, there were 4,125 ED encounters, with an average incidence of 0.56 per 100,000 population (males, 50.0%; mean age [SE], 9.2 [0.3]). Patients in the lowest income quartile (42.6%) and with Medicaid insurance (63.2%) were the most prevalent. The most common known perpetrator was a family member (29.4%). Most ED encounters took place at southern regional (28.6%), metropolitan teaching (67.1%) and designated trauma hospitals (57.8%). Contusion of the eye/adnexa and being struck by or against an object were the most common ocular diagnosis and known mechanism of injury, respectively. An estimated 12.4% of patients were admitted with a median hospital stay of 4 (IQR, 2-6). Median charges during the study period were $27,415.10 (IQR, $13,142.70-$54,454.90).

CONCLUSIONS

DV-related ocular injuries were most prevalent among patients with a low socioeconomic status. Given the historical underreporting of DV, future studies are warranted to identify more specific social determinants of health that contribute to such presentations.

Biomechanics of open-globe injury: a review

Open-globe injury is a common cause of blindness clinically caused by blunt trauma, sharp injury, or shock waves, characterised by rupture of the cornea or sclera and exposure of eye contents to the environment. It causes catastrophic damage to the globe, resulting in severe visual impairment and psychological trauma to the patient. Depending on the structure of the globe, the biomechanics causing ocular rupture can vary, and trauma to different parts of the globe can cause varying degrees of eye injury. The weak parts or parts of the eyeball in contact with foreign bodies rupture when biomechanics, such as external force, unit area impact energy, corneoscleral stress, and intraocular pressure exceed a certain value. Studying the biomechanics of open-globe injury and its influencing factors can provide a reference for eye-contact operations and the design of eye-protection devices. This review summarises the biomechanics of open-globe injury and the relevant factors.