Best Practice Case Studies-Ocular Injuries

Pdf Summary

Eye injuries, while less frequent than musculoskeletal injuries, can lead to severe consequences such as blindness and significant loss of function. Sports cause one-third of all eye-related blindness injuries in the U.S., necessitating approximately 100,000 doctor visits annually. This report highlights the critical role of team physicians in recognizing, managing, and appropriately referring eye injuries. Most sports-related eye injuries, particularly in high-risk sports such as baseball, basketball, and racquetball, can be prevented with proper eye protection.<br /><br />Eye injuries in sports often result from blunt trauma. Common occurrences include corneal abrasions, foreign bodies, and more severe conditions such as globe ruptures and orbital fractures. Each type of injury presents distinct symptoms and requires specific management strategies. For instance, corneal abrasions, marked by sharp pain and tearing, are frequently treated with antibiotic and cycloplegic drops. Meanwhile, penetrating eye injuries and globe ruptures demand immediate shielding and referral to specialists to prevent complications like endophthalmitis.<br /><br />Advanced management of these injuries requires knowledge about appropriate diagnostic tools, such as slit lamps and tonopens, and understanding of symptoms indicating severe issues like orbital fractures or retina tears. Furthermore, protective eyewear drastically reduces the risk of these injuries, though adherence to wearing them remains low, especially in sports without mandatory regulations. Despite the lack of comprehensive randomized studies advocating for educational interventions, promoting protective eyewear and proper preventative measures remains crucial.<br /><br />The report underscores the importance of eye protection which, if widely adopted, could prevent over 90% of sports-related ocular injuries. Sports medicine professionals are encouraged to advocate for protective eyewear adhering to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, particularly for high-risk sports.

Meta Tag

Edition 2nd Edition

Related Case 2nd Edition, CASE 09

Topic Eye

Keywords

2nd Edition, CASE 09

2nd Edition

Eye

eye injuries

sports-related blindness

team physicians

eye protection

blunt trauma

corneal abrasions

globe ruptures

protective eyewear

ASTM standards

sports medicine