Ocular injury in hurling.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the clinical characteristics of ocular injuries sustained in hurling in the south of Ireland and to investigate reasons for non-use of protective headgear and eye wear.


METHODS
Retrospective review of the case notes of 310 patients who attended Cork University Hospital or Waterford Regional Hospital between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 2002 with ocular injuries sustained during a hurling match. A confidential questionnaire on reasons for non-use of protective headgear and eye wear was completed by 130 players.


RESULTS
Hurling related eye injuries occurred most commonly in young men. Fifty two patients (17%) required hospital admission, with hyphaema accounting for 71% of admissions. Ten injuries required intraocular surgical


METHODS
retinal detachment repair (5); macular hole surgery (1); repair of partial thickness corneal laceration (1); repair of globe perforation (1); enucleation (1); trabeculectomy for post-traumatic glaucoma (1). Fourteen eyes (4.5%) had a final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of <6/12 and six (2%) had BCVA <3/60. In the survey, 63 players (48.5%) reported wearing no protective facemask while playing hurling. Impairment of vision was the most common reason cited for non-use.


CONCLUSIONS
Hurling related injury is a significant, and preventable, cause of ocular morbidity in young men in Ireland. The routine use of appropriate protective headgear and faceguards would result in a dramatic reduction in the incidence and severity of these injuries, and should be mandatory.
Flynn
T H
TH
Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. tomhenry75@hotmail.com
Fennessy
K
K
Horgan
N
N
Walsh
B
B
O'Connell
E
E
Cleary
P
P
Beatty
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005135:Eye Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006988:Hyphema / Q000517:prevention & control; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*