title: Racquetball as an ocular hazard.
abstract: Thirty-seven cases of ocular injury incurred while persons were playing racquetball were found in reviewing records of 1,071 emergency room patients in a three-month period. These can be divided into ball-induced and racquet-induced injuries. Fifteen ball-induced injuries occurred, ranging from a corneal abrasion to vitreous hemorrhage, in a patient with sickle cell retinopathy. Twenty-two cases of racquet-induced brow lacerations that occurred when the player struck his (or her) own forehead with the racquet were found. During the same interval, five tennis-related ocular injuries were observed. Ocular safety devices are strongly recommended to help prevent racquetball injuries.
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013177:Sports; D013715:Tennis; D014822:Vitreous Body