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: Characteristic s of the 26 eyes with retinal detachment were large retinal tears para llel to the corneoscleral limbus located close to the ora serrata usua lly in the temporal superior fundus quadrant (in 14 [54%] of the 26 ey es) and in the temporal inferior quadrant (in seven eyes [27%]); prima rily intact vitreous with a traumatic avulsion of the vitreous base in approximately one half the patients; relatively slow progression of t he retinal detachment; and additional damage to the choroid and retina l pigment epithelium in the posterior fundus. The patients were young and did mot have severe myopia. Reattachment of the retina was achieve d 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 characteristic s with worse prognosis than do ordinary rhegmatogenous detachments. Pr otective eyewear should be worn when playing squash.