Ocular trauma from paintball-pellet war games.
BACKGROUND
We studied ocular injuries and visual outcome after blunt trauma from paintball pellets.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed cases of ocular injury from paintball pellets occurring over 32 months.


RESULTS
Ten cases of ocular injury from paintball pellets were recorded. Most patients (9) were injured at home or at a friend's home; only 1 was injured at a war game facility. Six patients had surgery. Final visual acuity was 20/25 or better in 6 patients, 20/30 to 20/50 in 2 patients, 20/60 to 20/100 in 2 patients, and 20/200 in 1 patient. Traumatic maculopathy and epiretinal membrane formation were determinants of worse final visual acuity.


CONCLUSIONS
Paintball pellet ocular injuries occur more frequently at home than at war game facilities. Advanced surgical techniques offer decreased ocular morbidity and improved visual acuity. Decreasing visual morbidity from paintball pellets requires public education, proper product labeling, and packaging of eye protection with all paintball-related products.
Mason
John O
JO
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, 35233, USA.
Feist
Richard M
RM
White
Milton F
MF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010150:Paint; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery