Ocular trauma. Part 2: blunt injuries

Although the eye is well protected by its bony socket, it is subject to blunt trauma from external agents and vulnerable in many sports, especially squash, badminton and indoor cricket. In some games, rules have been modified in order to reduce the risk of injuries – for example, in some leagues of badminton, points cannot be scored if players are not wearing appropriate eye protection. Octopus straps are another frequent cause of blunt eye injuries.

The two most common injuries produced by blunt trauma are hyphaemas and blowout fractures; retinal damage is less common. The wide range of injuries following blunt trauma necessitate ophthalmological review in all cases.