Seeing through the strikes: a comprehensive study of ocular injuries in martial arts from 2012 to 2021.

Purpose: Over 6 million people in the United States participate in martial arts, and the focus on striking the face poses a significant risk of injury to the eye. The objective of this study is to characterize the nature and incidence of martial arts-related eye injuries in the United States.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database served as the basis of the study. The NEISS database was queried for eye injuries related to martial arts from 2012 to 2021. The entries that resulted were coded for demographic information, mechanism of injury, martial arts discipline, and diagnosis. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28 through descriptive and χ² analyses.

Results: There were 162 reported cases of martial arts-related eye injuries in 4- to 62-years-old patients with most injuries occurring in males (84%). The most represented martial arts discipline was boxing (30.5%), and the most frequently reported mechanism of injury was punching (30.2%). The most frequently reported diagnosis resulting from eye injury was corneal abrasion (40.5%), while sight-threatening diagnoses were reported, including retinal detachment (n = 4), vitreous hemorrhage (n = 2), and open globe (n = 2).

Conclusions: Despite the significant risk of ocular injury from martial arts, corneal abrasion was the most commonly diagnosed with excellent prognosis. Sight-threatening diagnoses were also reported, indicating that martial arts athletes should be educated about the risks of eye injury and the importance of regular eye examination when practicing combat sports.