Racquetball as an ocular hazard.

Thirty-seven cases of ocular injury incurred while persons were playing racquetball were found in reviewing records of 1,071 emergency room patients in a three-month period. These can be divided into ball-induced and racquet-induced injuries. Fifteen ball-induced injuries occurred, ranging from a corneal abrasion to vitreous hemorrhage, in a patient with sickle cell retinopathy. Twenty-two cases of racquet-induced brow lacerations that occurred when the player struck his (or her) own forehead with the racquet were found. During the same interval, five tennis-related ocular injuries were observed. Ocular safety devices are strongly recommended to help prevent racquetball injuries.