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The National Basketball Association eye injury study

B M Zagelbaum1, C Starkey, P S Hersh

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, North Shore University Hospital, Cornell University Medical College, Manhasset, NY, USA.

Archives of Ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|June 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

Professional basketball players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) experience a significant rate of eye injuries, primarily from player contact. The study recommends protective eyewear to mitigate these risks.

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Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Sports Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Professional basketball involves frequent physical contact, increasing the risk of athlete injuries.
  • Eye injuries represent a notable subset of athletic trauma, potentially impacting player performance and health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the epidemiology of eye injuries in National Basketball Association (NBA) players.
  • To identify common causes, injury types, and risk factors associated with ocular trauma in professional basketball.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study was conducted over 17 months, collecting data on eye injuries sustained by NBA athletes.
  • Data forms were completed by athletic trainers, physicians, and ophthalmologists for all examined eye injuries.
  • Injury data encompassed practice and game exposures during the preseason, regular season, playoffs, and championships.

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Main Results:

  • Of 1092 total injuries, 59 (5.4%) were eye-related. Common injury mechanisms involved fingers (35.6%) and elbows (28.8%).
  • The most frequent diagnoses were eyelid abrasions/lacerations (50.9%), eyelid/periorbital contusions (28.8%), and corneal abrasions (11.9%).
  • Most players (96.6%) were not wearing protective eyewear; 15.3% missed subsequent games due to injury.

Conclusions:

  • The incidence of eye injuries in NBA players was 1.44 per 1000 game exposures.
  • High levels of physical contact in professional basketball place players at substantial risk for eye injuries.
  • The use of protective eyewear is strongly recommended to prevent these sports-related ocular injuries.