12 January 2018
A new study published in Pediatrics has found that almost 442,000 children were treated in US emergency departments for recreation-related eye injuries between 1990 and 2012.
While the overall rate of eye injuries resulting from sports declined slightly over the period, the rate of injury from non-powder guns increased by nearly 170% over the two decades. Non-powder guns include BB, pellet and paintball guns.
Non-powder gun injuries accounted for 11% of recreation-related eye injuries over the period and almost half of hospitalisations.
Of the hospitalisations, 79% were linked to BB or pellet guns and about 19% were caused by paintball guns.
The authors called for increased eye injury prevention efforts, particularly in relation to the use of non-powder guns.
“Increased child, parent, and coach education, as well as adoption of rules that mandate the use of eye protective equipment should be undertaken,” they emphasised.
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