Eye injuries
in sport a concern. . .
By Daniel Luschwitz
The SportSafe Program recommends that sporting organisations should make wearing and
maintenance of protective eyewear mandatory for participants in their sport.
According to a recent study, more than a quarter of the eye injuries suffered by
children playing sport resulted in permanent disability.
Mary Bremmer, an ophthalmologist at Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital for
Children, says 10% of eye injuries treated at the hospital since 1983 are sport related.
"The worrying thing is that out of all the eye injuries we see, some 10% end up
with permanent visual disability, but when it comes to sport eye injuries, it’s 27%
ending in permanent disability," Dr. Bremmer says.
These impairments range from reduced visual acuity to blindness and even to the loss of
an eye. The most dangerous sport was tennis (16% of sports injuries), followed by football
(14%) and cricket (11%).
...27% of eye injuries in sport are
permanent...
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According to Dr. Bremmer, most of these
injuries occur from balls, racquets, bats and contact with other players’ elbows.
Furthermore, she believes education programs run on eye injuries by the hospital have
succeeded in reducing overall eye injuries among 8 – 14 year olds, there is little
progress in reducing the proportion of sports-related injuries.
Despite sports eye guards being available since 1992, few are used. Guards meeting
Australian Standard 4006 can withstand a ball or bat travelling at 140km/h, but Dr.
Bremmer says injuries will continue until governments make them mandatory.
Sports Medicine Australia recommend that you keep your "eyes on the ball" and
always use protective eyewear in training and competition, as approved by Australian and
New Zealand standards.
For more information regarding Sports Medicine Australia contact Tel: (02) 6251 6944
Fax: (02) 6253 1489 or
email: smanat@org.au
Summer 2000
IEA
has offices in every state. National freecall number 1800 SPORT
1
(1800 77678 1)
Email:info@ieasport.com.au
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