Paintball-related ocular trauma: Paintball or Painball?
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to describe the type and severity of paintball-related ocular trauma and to determine the necessary precautions to minimize the risk of ocular injury regardless of whether adequate eye protection was used.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review identified patients treated for paintball-related ocular trauma at the Ataturk University Medical Hospital from June 2010 through March 2013. A descriptive analysis of data was performed.


RESULTS
Ten patients with paintball-related ocular trauma were identified. At the time of their first examination, 7 of these patients had visual acuity (VA) of 20/200 or worse. One patient had a final VA of no light perception and 4 patients had a final VA of 20/200 or worse. Hyphema was noted in 7 patients, traumatic cataract in 2, iridodialysis in 2, retinal detachment in 3, and secondary glaucoma in 1. Six patients required surgery. Although all victims have used eye protection during the game, all patients were injured after they thought the game was over and had taken off their helmets or eye-protective devices.


CONCLUSIONS
Paintball-related accidents result in serious ocular trauma and most of the patients require surgery. These injuries result in severe loss of VA in some patients. Uninterrupted use of proper eye protection whenever a player is in the game field, even after they believe the game has ended, may reduce the incidence of severe ocular trauma in paintball players.
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Sadullah
S
Keles
Department of Ophthalmology, Erbaa Government Hospital, Tokat, Turkey.
Osman
O
Ondas
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey.
Metin
M
Ekinci
Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Mustafa Talip
MT
Sener
Physical Education and Sport College, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Erim
E
Erhan
Physical Education and Sport College, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Ahmet
A
Sirinkan
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Ilknur
I
Akyol Salman
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Ibrahim
I
Kocer
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Orhan
O
Baykal
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000293:injuries*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult