Sports and eye injuries. Racket sports caused 40%
Petrelius, A.
Lakartidningen 77(49): 4648-4652
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-7205 PMID: 7218943 Document Number: 154484
During the period 1970-78, 854 patients with acute eye injuries were admitted to the Eye Clinic at Sabbatsberg Hospital, Sweden. In 194 cases (22.7%) the injuries occurred playing games. Squash had the highest proportion of injuries (20%). All racket sports produced 40% of the injuries. Bandy and ice hockey produced 32%. There were contusions with hyphemia in 95% of the cases and perforations in only 2%. Of the patients, 60% were 11-30 yr. In this group sporting activities were responsible for 1/3 of all eye injuries, and were the most common cause of hyphema. The injuries incurred in playing games were responsible for 5% of all cases of serious impairment of vision due to trauma, down to 0.2 or worse. Adequate protective equipment can reduce the number of eye injuries incurred in sporting activities.