Circumstance and outcome of ocular paintball injuries

Ocular injuries from drive-by paintball shootings

PURPOSE

To characterize ocular injuries from drive-by paintball shootings with a focus on the severity of injuries sustained, clinical management, and visual outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective, interventional case series.

METHODS

Setting: University practice and emergency department.

PATIENT POPULATION

Patients evaluated by the ophthalmology service for paintball injuries.

OBSERVATION PROCEDURE

Age, gender, eye laterality, mechanism of injury, initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and initial diagnosis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical intervention(s), BCVA at last follow-up visit, and severity of injuries with a focus on ruptured globes.

RESULTS

Twenty patients suffered unilateral ocular injuries from drive-by paintball shootings between January 2020 and December 2021. Median follow-up interval was 7.1 weeks (range: 3 days - 11.4 months). Average patient age at presentation was 36.6 years (range: 13 - 64 years-old). Fourteen patients (70%) had an initial BCVA of counting fingers (CF) or worse. Six patients (30%) suffered ruptured globe injury requiring surgical repair, of whom three (15%) underwent subsequent evisceration. Twelve patients (60%) suffered ocular injuries requiring surgical intervention. Fifteen ocular surgeries were performed on 9 patients (45%) at our institution with 3 patients referred to outside providers for definitive surgical management due to insurance. BCVA at last-follow up visit was no light perception (NLP) in five patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of injury following paintball-induced ocular trauma is higher in this case series than what has previously been reported in the literature. Paintball guns can cause devastating ocular injury when used as an assault weapon and their use in unregulated settings bears further scrutiny.

Toy gun eye injuries - eye protection needed Helsinki ocular trauma study

PURPOSE

We report the epidemiology, findings, treatment, long-term outcome and use of resources for eye injuries caused by toy guns in southern Finland.

METHODS

All new patients injured by toy guns in one year (2011-2012) and treated at Helsinki University Eye Hospital were included. Follow-ups occurred at 3 months and 5 years.

RESULTS

Toy guns caused 15 eye traumas (1% of all eye traumas). Most patients were male (n = 14) and children aged under 16 years (n = 13). Toy guns involved were airsoft guns (n = 12), pea shooters (n = 2) and paintball (n = 1). Eleven patients did not use protective eyewear, and four patients discontinued their use during the game. Seven patients were not active participants in the game. Blunt ocular trauma was the primary diagnosis in 13 patients and corneal abrasion in two. Seven patients had retinal findings. In the 5-year follow-up, eight of 15 patients had abnormal ocular findings: three had artificial intraocular lens, two iridodialysis, and one each retinal plomb, mydriasis or iris tear. None had glaucoma. Seven patients had permanent subjective impairment due to pain, lowered visual acuity, blur or difficulty in focusing. Four patients needed seven operations. The number of outpatient visits was 90. One patient required hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Toy guns cause serious eye traumas. No glaucoma was found. Proper use of toy guns and protective eyewear during the whole game should be emphasized to both players and bystanders. We recommend that in Finland the selling of airsoft guns be placed under the Firearms Act to make the hazards of airsoft guns known.

Paintball related ocular injuries: First case report in Saudi patients

Paintball is a popular recreational sport. This case series describes three Saudi patients exposed to paintball ocular injuries with sever ocular trauma. Two patients developed hyphema and traumatic cataract and one patient had vitreous hemorrhage, choroidal detachment, commotio retinae and retinal tear. All patients require surgical intervention. Final best corrected visual acuity was 20/200, 20/30 and 20/50 respectively. Paintball related ocular injuries can result in severe visual loss and in most of the time requires surgical intervention. Most injuries occur in under-supervised settings and are easily preventable. Our main aim was to increase awareness among local ophthalmologists and eye professionals about this new game. Improved safety measures and appropriate public education could prevent such serious ocular injuries.

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.

MATERIAL AND 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.

Ocular trauma and visual outcome secondary to paintball projectiles

PURPOSE

To describe ocular injuries attributable to paintball-related trauma and their management and results.

DESIGN

Retrospective, interventional case series.

METHODS

setting: University practice and emergency department. patient population: Thirty-six eyes of 36 patients who sustained ocular injuries secondary to paintballs between July 1, 1998 and January 1, 2005. observation procedure: Age, gender, laterality, setting, eye protection, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and initial diagnosis were documented. main outcome measures: Medical and surgical intervention within the first three days postinjury and further treatment after this time period were recorded. BCVA at the initial and final clinical visit were compared.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up interval was 11.7 months (one to 40). Mean age was 21 years (three to 64), 31 (86%) were male, 34 (97%) were not wearing eye-protection device when injured, and initial BCVA was worse than 20/200 in 28 eyes (78%). The most common ocular finding was hyphema in 29 eyes (81%). Initially, 20 eyes (56%) were managed medically and nine eyes (25%) required primary repair of a ruptured globe. Ultimately, 29 eyes (81%) had surgical intervention including eight eyes (22%) enucleations. Final visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 13 eyes (36%), whereas 18 eyes (50%) were worse than 20/200. Visual acuity (VA) at initial presentation correlated strongly with final VA (r = 0.64; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Paintball-related ocular injuries are frequently severe and visually devastating. The compulsive use of protective eyewear may have eliminated 97% of injuries in this series and continues to need emphasis to paintball users.

Ocular findings following trauma from paintball sports

PURPOSE

To raise awareness of potential significant ocular damage and visual loss secondary to paintballs in those not wearing ocular protection and to report high incidence of chorioretinitis sclopetaria from paintball contusion.

METHODS

We reviewed cases of eye injury presenting to a single institution from 2000 to 2005. Those cases in which the injury was attributed to paintballs were identified and evaluated to determine ocular findings and visual prognosis.

RESULTS

Ocular paintball injuries occurred in eight male subjects and one female subject (nine eyes) with an average age of 16 years (range, 11-26). None had ocular protection at the time of ocular injury. On initial examination, vitreous haemorrhage was present in six eyes (67%), maculopathy, hyphema, cataract, and commotio retinae were each present in four eyes (44%). Two eyes suffered retinal detachment and one eye an optic nerve avulsion. Chorioretinitis sclopetaria occurred in four eyes (44%). The final visual acuity was > or =20/40 in three eyes, 20/50 to 20/150 in two eyes, and < or =20/200 in four eyes.

CONCLUSION

Injuries owing to paintballs can result in severe ocular damage and visual loss. Increased awareness and need for proper ocular protection should be emphasized by ophthalmologists. Chorioretinitis sclopetaria occurs with a high frequency and its presence should be recognized, as its management is different from retinal tear or detachment.