Eye Injuries

A 2013 study estimated over 30,000 emergency department visits annually for sports- and recreation-related eye injuries. The majority of these injuries occurred in individuals younger than 25 years, with a peak during adolescence, and 80% occurred in males. Approximately 1.5% of all sports-related injuries involve the eye or ocular adnexa. These injuries have a high morbidity rate, and long-term visual impairment can lead to additional medical and socioeconomic sequelae. The highest rate of visual impairment occurs with projectile-firing devices, such as paintball, air, or pellet guns. In the United States, basketball is the leading sports-related cause of eye injuries, followed by baseball/softball and cycling. In Europe and South America, soccer is the leading cause.