Abstract Listings 2026

Purpose

Household fixtures and appliances present eye-level hazards, yet the burden of oculofacial injuries they cause remains poorly characterized. This study quantified emergency department visits for ocular, periocular, and upper facial injuries, identified patterns associated with injury severity, and evaluated whether eyeball injury codes fail to capture periocular trauma.

Methods

We reviewed records from the 2021–2025 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Included were cases with codes or narratives indicating injury to the eye, periorbit, brow, forehead, nose, cheek, or face. Scalp and lower-face injuries were excluded. CPSC weights yielded national estimates. Narratives were categorized by product, mechanism, injury type, and acuity.

Results

Of 4,802 records, 2,916 met criteria, representing 100,137 ED visits (95% CI, 83,694–116,580). Males were 61.4%, median age 18, with 30% under 5. Leading products: heating systems/pipes/radiators (35.6%), fireplaces/fire pits/wood stoves (24.8%), fans/air conditioners (19.5%), and cooking appliances/hot liquids/irons (17.8%). Injuries: lacerations (47%), burns/scalds (27.2%), ocular surface/foreign bodies (13.7%), contusions/hematomas (6.6%), fractures (3.7%). Admission/transfer/observation: 9% overall, higher for thermal injuries (24.8%) and fractures (28.4%). Of 659 eye/periorbital cases, 39.6% lacked an eyeball injury code.

Conclusion

Household oculofacial trauma follows preventable trends, many in young children due to fixed fixtures or fans, and severe burns from heat sources. Prevention should focus on hearth/radiator barriers, safe appliance placement, and protection from hot liquids. Narrative surveillance is vital, as standard injury codes often miss periocular trauma.

Additional Authors

↑ Back to top