Retinal detachments by squash ball accidents.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristics of retinal detachments caused by squash ball accidents.

METHODS

Twenty-six patients had a retinal detachment after a squash ball hit their eyes.

RESULTS

Characteristics of the 26 eyes with retinal detachment were large retinal tears parallel to the corneoscleral limbus located close to the ora serrata usually in the temporal superior fundus quadrant (in 14 [54%] of the 26 eyes) and in the temporal inferior quadrant (in seven eyes [27%]); primarily intact vitreous with a traumatic avulsion of the vitreous base in approximately one half the patients; relatively slow progression of the retinal detachment; and additional damage to the choroid and retinal pigment epithelium in the posterior fundus. The patients were young and did not have severe myopia. Reattachment of the retina was achieved in 22 (85%) of the 26 patients. In 11 patients (42%), visual acuity outcome was 20/40 or better with best correction.

CONCLUSIONS

Retinal detachments after squash ball accidents show different characteristics with worse prognosis than do ordinary rhegmatogenous detachments. Protective eyewear should be worn when playing squash.