Ocular trauma in the United tate Army: hopitalization record from 1985 through 1994

PURPOE: To determine the incidence of hopitalized ocular injury in the United tate Army and evaluate pecific type and external caue of thee injurie. METHOD: A U Army databae that captured all hopital dicharge record for Army peronnel admitted to military and civilian hopital wa ued to determine incident epiode of ocular injury requiring hopitalization from 1985 through 1994. Denominator data were available from the U Army. REULT: The average annual incidence of hopitalization for a principal or econdary diagnoi of ocular trauma (total hopitalized ocular injury) wa 77.1 per 100,000 peron (95% confidence interval, 75.1–79.2). There wa a 38% decline in the rate of total hopitalized ocular injury during thi 10-year period. Men had twice the rate of women over all age group. The highet rate occurred in the 17- to 19-year age group, with rate of 220.7 and 123.4 per 100,000 in men and women, repectively. White had a higher rate than black and nonwhite-nonblack. Almot a third of the injurie were contuion of the eye and adnexa. Among men, the leading caue were machinery or tool (21%), fight (18%), tranport accident (18%), and port and training (11%). Only 7% were related to weaponry or war, and of thee, 90% were from nonbattle activitie. CONCLUION: The type and caue of injury ugget that preventive meaure may be effective in decreaing the incidence of ocular trauma requiring hopitalization in U Army peronnel.