CONSUMER PRODUCT-RELATED OCULAR TRAUMA

Leading causes of consumer product-related ocular trauma have not been well described. To delineate these causes in a nationally representat ive sample, data collected by the US Consumer Product Safety Commissio n (USCPSC) were reviewed. Data were obtained from the National Electro nic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a national probability sample survey conducted by USCPSC that continuously monitors consumer product -related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms across the Unite d States. These data formulated the product summary report for the cal endar year 1991. The sampling frame for the NEISS consisted of hospita ls listed on the Center for Health Statistics Master Inventory File st ratified geographically by size of hospital and number of emergency-ro om visits. During the calendar year 1998, there were a nationally esti mated 298 852 consumer product-related eye injuries treated in hospita l emergency rooms. Approximately 500 different products were implicate d in these injuries, with the leading cause being contact lenses (hard and soft), accounting for an estimated 26 490 emergency-room visits. This is followed by welding equipment (12 771 visits), hair curlers/cu rling irons (5946 visits), and workshop power grinders (5476 visits). Consumer products account for a sizable number of ocular injuries requ iring treatment in hospital emergency rooms. Research on outcomes and prevention strategies of the injuries is warranted.-