Ocular sports trauma: a private practice study

Ocular sports trauma is a leading cause of permanent vision loss in the United States. Various studies have examined the nature of injury, based on retrospective emergency room data. Knowledge of the epidemiology of ocular sports trauma will help the private practitioner identify those patients who are most at risk for injury so that the appropriate eye protection can be recommended.

A prospective evaluation of ocular injuries encountered in a private ophthalmology practice was performed to identify athletes most at risk for injury and to document the long-term complications of these injuries.

Of 125 patients, 57 suffered corneal abrasion, 48 incurred traumatic iritis, 45 received lid or orbital contusions, and 43 sustained conjunctival hemorrhages. Basketball and the racquet sports were the leading causes of trauma, while baseball/softball and football were other important sources of injury. Hyphema was the primary reason for hospital admission. Permanent sequelae were sustained in 37 patients (29 percent), while eight suffered some degree of permanent visual loss. The great majority of patients were injured while participating in unsupervised sporting activities.

The types of injury and sports involved in this study were similar to those reported by hospital emergency rooms. The great majority of injuries could have been prevented if adequate protective eyewear had been worn. Eye care practitioners should advocate the use of protective eyewear for patients who participate in sports activities.