Ocular Pathologies Affecting Winter Sport in Para Athletes: A Cohort Study of the Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the present study was to describe eye illness among athletes with disability.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

Participants: Five hundred forty-seven athletes over 12 days (6564 athlete days) at Sochi 2014 and 567 athletes over 12 days (6804 athlete days) at Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.

Interventions: All athletes with eye illnesses presented themselves to the team physicians via the WEB-IISS and/or polyclinic staff via the local polyclinic services (ATOS system).

Main outcome measures: Incidence of eye illnesses per 1000 athlete days. Descriptive statistics, including the number and proportion of illnesses, broken down by sport, age, sex, type of impairment, medical diagnosis, medical decision, and anticipated time loss (in days).

Results: Seventy five percent of eye illnesses were reported in male Para athletes. Athletes participating in Ice hockey (61%) accounted for two-thirds of all eye illnesses across all sports reported during the 2 Winter Games. Most eye illnesses were reported in athletes with limb deficiency (66%), visual impairment (21%), and spinal cord injury (10%). Environmental eye illnesses (24%), allergic conjunctivitis (21%), corneal erosion (7%), and infective conjunctivitis (7%) were the most frequently reported diagnoses.

Conclusion: Eye illnesses are prevalent in the Paralympic Winter Games across athletes of various ages and genders, with a higher incidence observed among male Para athletes. Ice hockey was highlighted as the sport with the highest reported cases of eye illnesses, with conditions affecting various anatomical areas of the eye.