Eye Injury Prevention in Sports
Author: Adapted from an article by Sports Medicine Australia
Date: 16 Mar 2002
Category: Articles
Ophthalmologists (medical eye physicians) regularly see young patients and recreational athletes with eye injuries caused by sports. Ninety percent of these eye injuries are preventable with proper eye safety protection. Prescription streetwear eyeglasses do not protect against eye injuries in sports. They are not designed to withstand the energy levels involved in a collision with a badminton shuttlecock. Eye safety goggles specially designed for these sports should be worn when participating in these sports. There is more energy in a squash ball than a .22 caliber bullet because of the weight of the squash ball. A hockey puck travels at 90-100 mph. A professional throws a baseball at 95 mph. A highly skilled squash player has been shown, by high speed film, to strike a ball at 125-145 mph. A badminton shuttlecock has been clocked at 180 mph. A novice 12-year old child can strike a shuttlecock at 80 mph. The consequences of a sports eye injury can be devastating. Eye injuries from sports may cause loss of vision or complete loss of an eye. Bleeding (hyphema) within the eye may cause glaucoma years later. Patients with this condition must be checked by an ophthalmologist yearly for the rest of their lives. Even a minor eye injury can cause retinal detachment and legal blindness. Contact lenses will not protect the eye from injuries in sports. A hard or gas permeable contact lens may break upon impact causing a corneal abrasion or corneal laceration with rupture of they eye. While a soft contact lens will not cause significant injury to the cornea upon impact, it will not prevent an eye injury due to sports. Polycarbonate eyewear prescription lenses should be worn when participating in baseball and racquet sports. Almost all prescription eyewear is available in polycarbonate. Sports participants should insist that their prescription eyewear be made from polycarbonate. This material is used in riot plastic shields and canopies for jet aircraft. It will withstand the force of a .22 caliber bullet. Polycarbonate is available in prescription and nonprescription eyewear for squash and badminton players. All racket sports players should wear eye protectors. Players of squash, racquetball and handball should wear polycarbonate closed protectors. Ophthalmologist are encouraging badminton and tennis players who play aggressive doubles at the net to also wear similar protectors. Badminton, is now becoming the most common racket sport associated with eye injury. INJURIES [b]Black Eye[/b] Signs and symptoms - bruising and swelling Management - apply cold compress to the area with the eye closed. DO NOT allow the ice to aggravate the injury. Check carefully for possibility of more serious injury, if unsure refer immediately. [b]Foriegn Body[/b] Signs and symptoms - pain in the eye, irritation Management - open upper and lower eyelid using gentle finger pressure wash out the eye with tap water or sterile saline. If object is not removed refer the athlete on. [b]Hyphaema[/b] Signs and symptoms - red or brown blood in the lower part of the eye Management - rest athlete, preferably semi-sitting or semi-reclining. Transport to hospital by ambulance. [b]Blow out fracture[/b] Signs and symptoms - local pain, tenderness and swelling may have cheek and eye soreness, may have double vision when looking upwards. Management - rest athlete, preferably sitting up, call ambulance. [b]Burst eye[/b] Signs and symptoms - Eye reddness, possible mishape, local pain, extreme tenderness and swelling may have cheek and general eye soreness, may have double vision when looking upwards. Management - rest athlete, preferably sitting up, call ambulance.
