Ocular findings in asymptomatic amateur boxers

A group of 25 active, asymptomatic, amateur boxers were examined to evaluate the nature and incidence of ocular pathologic conditions in amateur boxing. An approximately age-matched group of 25 men who were not boxers was used as a control group. The number of fights varied from 1 to 220 (mean 39.4), and the number of spar rounds from 20 to 600 (mean 192.5). Visual acuity was 20/20 in all subjects of both groups, except for one boxer with keratoconus. Intraocular pressure was below 20 mmHg in all eyes. In 19 (76%) boxers, pathologic anatomic findings were attributed to contusion trauma. Lesions of the anterior eye segment included injuries of the lid in 3 eyes (12%), angle abnormalities in 5 (20%), and slight lens opacities in 5 (20%). Posterior vitreous detachment was observed in 3 (12%) boxers and peripheral retinal scars were seen in 15 (60%). In 6 (24%) eyes, retinal tears or atrophic holes were detected. In the 7 (28%) boxers with lesions of the anterior eye segment, the posterior segment was also affected in 6 (85%). In the control group, an atrophic hole was found in one (4%) patient with no other ocular pathologic findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)