Objective: To determine the prevalence of eye injuries among intercollegiate women's lacrosse players as well as the level of play, specific play settings, and particular mechanisms associated with these injuries.
Design: Anonymous, retrospective, survey.
Setting: Intercollegiate lacrosse tournament.
Participants: Collegiate and postcollegiate women's lacrosse players.
Main outcome measures: Self-reports of eye injuries, injury circumstances, treatment received, playing time missed, and continuing problems were recorded.
Results: Surveys were collected from 667 players from 34 teams (83% of players listed on rosters). A total of 125 injuries were reported among 84 players (12.6%). Injuries occurred equally in high school and college. Athletes were injured most frequently in games (41 injuries) and practices (38 injuries), with 17 players injured during the off-season. Several mechanisms of injury were noted. Fifty-three women sustained injuries requiring medical attention. Of those athletes injured, 23 missed 1-5 days and 9 players missed more than 5 days. Four athletes (4.8%) reported residual problems from an eye injury sustained while playing lacrosse.
Conclusions: Eye injuries are occurring more frequently than current surveillance data suggest. Because injuries are seen at all levels of play, in many different situations, and by multiple mechanisms, mandatory eyewear is needed to prevent serious eye injuries in women's lacrosse.