Soccer-Related Eye Injuries in Children and Adolescents

In brief: To determine the severity and frequency of soccer-related injuries, the medical charts of 13 soccer players who had sustained blunt trauma to the eye were reviewed. The patients (five girls, eight boys) ranged in age from 8 to 15 years. Hyphema was the most common injury; others included retinal edema, angle recession, secondary glaucoma, and chorioretinal rupture. Six injuries were caused by the ball, three by a kick, and one by a head butt; in three cases the cause was unknown. Education of coaching staff, parents, and officials; protective eye wear; proper conditioning; strictly enforced rules; and an emphasis on having fun would help reduce the number and severity of soccer-related eye injuries.