Badminton-related eye injuries: A case series from Malaysia

Abstract

Purpose

Report on the visual outcomes and risk factors associated with badminton related eye injuries from a case series from Malaysia.

Methods

Badminton-related eye injuries identified retrospectively from the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) medical records from 2010 to 2021, by searching ‘shuttlecock’ and ‘badminton’. All ages and genders with badminton-related eye and adnexal injuries requiring hospitalization were included. Demographics, mechanism and circumstances of the injury, imaging, presentation and final visual outcome were collated. The data were analysed to determine clinical, demographic and outcome trends.

Results

The case series included 17 patients with badminton-related eye injuries with male to female ratio 7.5:1 and median age 36 ± 19 years-old (range 10–61 years old). 86 % of injuries were caused by the shuttlecock and, where identified all were associated with doubles play (9/9) with no eye protection (13/13). Vision impairment was identified in 69% patients with imaging identifying retinal damage in 2 patients.

Conclusion

Our case series identified that vision impairment was associated with the majority of badminton-related eye injuries. Doubles play, the shuttlecock and a lack of eye protection were associated with eye injury.