Golf-related ocular injuries
W. F. Mieler, S. K. Nanda, M. D. Wolf and J. Harman
Vitreoretinal Section, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
OBJECTIVE: To review golf-related ocular injuries, which account for 1.5%
to 5.6% of all sports injuries. METHODS: During 8 years (1986 to 1994), a
retrospective review of sports-related trauma was performed at the Medical
College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Eight blunt ocular injuries (four ruptured
globes and four globes without rupture) caused by golf-related activities
were identified. The four ruptured globes caused by golf-related trauma
accounted for 1.2% of all penetrating injuries and/or ruptured globes and
11.7% of sports-related injuries. RESULTS: A golf ball projectile was the
mechanism of injury in six patients, while two patients were struck with a
gold club. The four patients with ruptured globes had an initial visual
acuity of light perception or worse, and three globes were subsequently
enucleated, while one was prephthisic. In the four trauma cases without
rupture, surgical intervention was required to achieve anatomic stability,
with final visual acuities ranging from 20/25 to 20/40. CONCLUSIONS: The
incidence of ocular injuries caused by golf-related trauma is low compared
with that for other sports-related injuries. Although the prognosis for
ruptured globes occurring in this setting remains extremely guarded, blunt
trauma without rupture caused by a golf-related injury is associated with a
more favorable visual and anatomic outcome.
