Ocular injury in hurling

T H Flynn¹, K Fennessy², N Horgan², B Walsh², E O’Connell¹, P Cleary¹, S Beatty²

¹ Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
² Waterford Regional Hospital, Waterford, Ireland

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Mr Flynn
Department of Ophthalmology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Republic of Ireland; tomhenry75{at}hotmail.com

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics of ocular injuries sustained in hurling in the south of Ireland and to investigate reasons for non-use of protective headgear and eye wear.

View larger version (117K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2  Two hurling players competing for a dropping ball. Courtesy of Eddie O’Hare, Evening Echo, Cork.

 

Methods: Retrospective review of the case notes of 310 patients who attended Cork University Hospital or Waterford Regional Hospital between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2002 with ocular injuries sustained during a hurling match. A confidential questionnaire on reasons for non-use of protective headgear and eye wear was completed by 130 players.

Results: Hurling related eye injuries occurred most commonly in young men. Fifty two patients (17%) required hospital admission, with hyphaema accounting for 71% of admissions. Ten injuries required intraocular surgical intervention: retinal detachment repair (5); macular hole surgery (1); repair of partial thickness corneal laceration (1); repair of globe perforation (1); enucleation (1); trabeculectomy for post-traumatic glaucoma (1). Fourteen eyes (4.5%) had a final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of <6/12 and six (2%) had BCVA <3/60. In the survey, 63 players (48.5%) reported wearing no protective facemask while playing hurling. Impairment of vision was the most common reason cited for non-use.

Conclusions: Hurling related injury is a significant, and preventable, cause of ocular morbidity in young men in Ireland. The routine use of appropriate protective headgear and faceguards would result in a dramatic reduction in the incidence and severity of these injuries, and should be mandatory.

Keywords: hurling; eye; ocular; trauma; injury

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Ocular injury in hurling

T H Flynn¹, K Fennessy², N Horgan², B Walsh², E O’Connell¹, P Cleary¹, S Beatty²

¹ Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland
² Waterford Regional Hospital, Waterford, Ireland

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Mr Flynn
Department of Ophthalmology, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Republic of Ireland; tomhenry75{at}hotmail.com

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics of ocular injuries sustained in hurling in the south of Ireland and to investigate reasons for non-use of protective headgear and eye wear.

Methods: Retrospective review of the case notes of 310 patients who attended Cork University Hospital or Waterford Regional Hospital between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2002 with ocular injuries sustained during a hurling match. A confidential questionnaire on reasons for non-use of protective headgear and eye wear was completed by 130 players.

Results: Hurling related eye injuries occurred most commonly in young men. Fifty two patients (17%) required hospital admission, with hyphaema accounting for 71% of admissions. Ten injuries required intraocular surgical intervention: retinal detachment repair (5); macular hole surgery (1); repair of partial thickness corneal laceration (1); repair of globe perforation (1); enucleation (1); trabeculectomy for post-traumatic glaucoma (1). Fourteen eyes (4.5%) had a final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of <6/12 and six (2%) had BCVA <3/60. In the survey, 63 players (48.5%) reported wearing no protective facemask while playing hurling. Impairment of vision was the most common reason cited for non-use.

Conclusions: Hurling related injury is a significant, and preventable, cause of ocular morbidity in young men in Ireland. The routine use of appropriate protective headgear and faceguards would result in a dramatic reduction in the incidence and severity of these injuries, and should be mandatory.

Keywords: hurling; eye; ocular; trauma; injury

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Commentary

C MacEwan³

³ Department of Ophthalmology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland, UK; c.j.macewen{at}dundee.ac.uk

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