Men at Much Higher Eye Injury Risk

Their risk is double that for women, research shows

TUESDAY, July 12, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Men are twice as likely to suffer eye injury as women, a new study finds.

Researchers analyzed data for 2001 on eye injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments, inpatient and outpatient facilities, and doctors' offices.

Reporting in the July issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology, they found that in 2001, about 1,990,872 people -- close to seven per every 1,000 -- suffered an eye injury. Of those injuries, nearly 51 percent were treated in emergency departments, about 39 percent were treated in doctors' offices, 8 percent in outpatient facilities, and 2.5 percent in inpatient facilities.

Men suffered more than twice as many eye injuries as women (9.5 per 1,000 vs. 4.5 per 1,000), the University of Alabama at Birmingham team reported. White males in their 20s had the highest rate of eye trauma -- more than 20 per 1,000.

Contusions, foreign bodies, superficial injuries and open wounds accounted for the majority of these injuries.

"Future research should focus on a more detailed documentation of the causes of eye injuries, as well as long-term functional outcomes," the researchers added.

More information

Prevent Blindness America offers this home eye safety checklist.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com