Indoor soccer-related eye injuries: should eye protection be mandatory?

BACKGROUND: Our objectives were to present the spectrum of eye injuries caused by indoor soccer, as seen at our institution, and to initiate discussion as to whether eye protection should become mandatory for this indoor sport.

METHODS: Chart review of patients presenting to our institution with eye injuries from indoor soccer.

RESULTS: Five cases were identified from 2001-2005, all occurring during the winter or late fall. Each injury was due to contact with the soccer ball itself. Initially, all 5 patients presented with commotio retinae (1 with a prominent retinal and vitreous hemorrhage and 2 with smaller retinal hemorrhages), 2 with hyphema and traumatic mydriasis, 1 with subconjunctival hemorrhage, and 1 with upper lid edema and ecchymosis. Three resolved uneventfully with 20/20 or better vision; however, in 2 there were findings of choroidal rupture with chorioretinal scarring. One of these had 20/20 vision and a discontinuous choroidal rupture peripherally, and the other had 20/40 vision and extensive chorioretinal scarring. One patient also showed a peculiar persistent iris scar.

INTERPRETATION: Soccer-related eye injuries have been recognized as an important ophthalmologic problem in Europe and now increasingly so in North America. With the increasing popularity of indoor soccer in Canada, serious eye injuries have become more prevalent. On the basis of the prevalence and the nature and mechanism of the ocular trauma, we believe there may be a need to make eye protection mandatory for all forms of soccer.