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Gerald McGwin, Jr, MS, PhD; Cynthia Owsley, MSPH, PhD

Arch Ophthalmol. 2005;123:89-95.

Objective  To evaluate the association between specific occupant, collision, and vehicle characteristics and the risk of motor vehicle collision (MVC)–related eye injury.

Methods  The 1988-2001 National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System files were used. The Crashworthiness Data System is a national probability sample of passenger vehicles involved in police-reported tow-away MVCs. The risk of eye injury was calculated according to specific occupant (eg, age, seat belt use) and collision (eg, V [estimated change in velocity], vehicular intrusion) characteristics. The association between eye injury and these characteristics was calculated using risk ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals.

Results  The incidence of eye injuries in MVCs has progressively increased since 1998. Frontal air bag deployment was associated with a statistically significant, 2-fold (risk ratio, 2.13 [95% confidence interval, 1.56-2.91]) increased risk of eye injury, whereas seat belt use was associated with a 2-fold (risk ratio, 2.17 [95% confidence interval, 1.89-2.44]) reduced eye injury risk. In late-model vehicles, frontal air bags are the most common cause of MVC-related eye injury. Older age, female sex, seat position, vehicle weight, and collision severity were also associated with eye injury risk.

Conclusions  Seat belt use is the most effective means of occupant protection against MVC-related eye injury. For front-seated occupants in frontal collisions, the adverse effect of frontal air bags on the risk of eye injury should be considered against their protective effect for fatal injury.

Author Affiliations: Department of Epidemiology and International Health, School of Public Health (Dr McGwin), Section of Trauma, Burns, and Surgical Critical Care, Division of General Surgery, Departments of Surgery (Dr McGwin), and Ophthalmology (Drs McGwin and Owsley) School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

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