We reviewed the records of the patients hospitalised for eye injuries
in Aosta Valley between January 1976 and June 1993. Eye injuries from
traditional regional sports accounted for 27 cases (41.5% of all ocula
r sport injuries), of which 21 (77.8%) occurred during the game 'tsan'
, the most popular one. Injuries led to legal blindness in 3 (11.1%) c
ases and to a permanent visual loss in 2 (7.4%). Although our data do
not allow to assess either a significantly higher incidence or severit
y of eye injuries from Aosta Valley regional games as compared with ot
her sports, the possibility of severe trauma with visual loss suggests
to extend the use of protection devices.