Sports‐related eye injuries: the current picture

Abstract

ABSTRACT.Purpose: This study aims to represent the epidemiologies, findings, treatments, use of resources, outcomes and protective-eyewear-use recommendations in sports-related eye injuries by sport type. Methods: The study population is comprised of all new eye injury patients in 1 year in Helsinki University Eye Hospital. Data were collected from patient questionnaires and hospital records. The follow-up period was 3 months. Results: 149/1151 (12.9%) of eye injuries were sports-related. Thirty two percent were related to floorball (type of hockey played on a mat with a stick and a ball); football, tennis and ice hockey were the next most common eye-injurycausing sports. Relatively, the most dangerous sports were rink bandy, (bandy played on ice hockey rink with a stick and a ball) (0.50 injuries in 12 months/ 1000 participants, CI 0.10-1.46), floorball (0.47, CI 0.34-0.62) and tennis (0.47, CI 0.26-0.77). Contusion was the primary diagnosis in 77% of cases; 41% of contusion patients had severe, mainly retinal findings. The number of outpatient visits was 459; inpatient days 25 and major surgeries 31. One hundred and eight patients were estimated to need life-long follow-up. Seventeen patients had a permanent functional impairment, 4 in ice hockey, 3 in floorball, 2 each in tennis and badminton. Conclusion: Compared to a previous study, ice hockey eye injuries are increasing and relatively severe, and a third of these injuries occurred despite visor use. Floorball eye injury incidence has significantly declined, mainly due to recently enforced mandatory protective eyewear for younger age groups. Based on these findings, we recommend, in floorball, that protective eyewear should be mandatory in all age groups. Universally in ice hockey, the proper use of a visor should be emphasised.

Eye Injuries in Summer Olympic Sports - A Mini Review

“…From what concerns London Olympic Games, there were no reports about eye injuries on the literature [6]. In terms of sports modalities, four articles were found considering swimming, gymnastics and cycling, denominated low risk sports [2,[8][9][10][11]. Twenty three articles mentioned injuries related to high risk sports as floorball (hockey), badminton, handball, basketball, golf, rugby, volleyball, water polo and soccer [2,5,6,.…”

“…During Beijing Summer Olympic Games in 2008, 135 athletes suffered eye injuries, representing approximately 4% of all injuries reports [1,6]. According to the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) modalities are classified in low, high and very high risk to eye injuries [7,8]. The "low risk" sports are those that do not involve infighting, blunt throwing balls and discs or use bats and very accelerate strokes such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics and rowing.…”

Severity and pattern of injuries caused by the traditional Swiss team sport ‘Hornussen’: first retrospective study at a level I trauma centre in Switzerland

“…Other publications have reported comparable serious eye injuries from other sports or recreational activities, such as paintball, 22 badminton and ice hockey. 23 Approximately 30-40% of the cases resulted in permanent and significant visual impairment or even legal blindness. Seventy-two per cent of all sport-related eye injuries may have to be followed up for life, as they are accompanied by an increased risk of glaucoma.…”

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“…The ball impact can result in a hyphema [8,9]. Vitreous hemorrhage, commotio retinae, retinal tear and retinal detachment, choroidal rupture, macular hole, maculopathy and epiretinal membrane are posterior segment alterations found after traumas in sports which involve a medium or small ball such as tennis, paintball or golf ball [10].…”