Eye injuries on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan: Public health implications

Abstract

Background The U.S. Army faces major challenges in balancing the need to protect a soldier from harm while not impeding his ability to fight. Unfortunately, the incidence of combat eye injuries has increased over time, despite the development of protective measures. Methods A cross-sectional study of soldiers evacuated from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom with eye injuries was performed from March 2003 through December 2004. Data for this study came from the Military Office of the Surgeon General (OTSG) Patient Tracking Database. Results A total of 368 patients (451 eyes) were evacuated for eye-related problems. From March 2003 through December 2004, 15.8% (258 of 1,635 patients, 309 eyes) of all medical evacuations were a result of battle eye injuries (BI), 17.3% (283 of 1,635 patients, 337 eyes) were a result of eye injuries (BI and nonbattle injuries [NBI] combined), and 22.5% (368 of 1,635 patients, 451 eyes) of all evacuations were because of eye-related complaints alone (BI, NBI, or disease) or in combination with other bodily injuries. Conclusion Developing combat eye protection that meets the unique requirements of the military, issuing eyewear to soldiers, and supporting and enforcing its use, will provide the best eye protection for American soldiers during military training exercises and future conflicts.