[Eye injuries caused by "Hornussen"--a traditional Swiss team game]

"Hornussen" is a traditional Swiss team game played in rural areas of Switzerland. A puck made out of hard plastic called "Hornuss" or "Nouss" is hit with a lash like racket into the field. The opposing team has to capture the flying puck with shovel like shields. Eye injuries are rare, however, very severe.

We report on three patients who were seen and treated at the university eye clinic Berne in the last four years.

All injuries were blunt contusions with involvement of the periorbital soft tissues by a hit with the "Hornuss". In two cases orbital fractures were observed and in one case there was a rupture of the globe in a pre-injured aphakic eye. Only in one case was there a direct hit to the eye by the "Hornuss", the other injuries were caused by indirect hit after the "Hornuss" bounced off the shovel like shields. No protection gear was used. One patient showed complete recovery, whereas in the other two cases significant impairment remained.

Without adequate protection gear, injuries caused by "Hornussen" are generally severe. The injury pattern with periorbital involvement resembles eye injuries caused by baseballs. This is probably due to the similar size of the balls. The mandatory wearing of protection helmets issued by the federal "Hornusser" association for young players should be extended as a general requirement for all players.