Jd. Bullock et al., OCULAR AND ORBITAL TRAUMA FROM WATER BALLOON SLINGSHOTS - A CLINICAL,EPIDEMIOLOGIC, AND EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY, Ophthalmology, 104(5), 1997, pp. 878-887
Purpose: The authors report the findings of 17 patients with ophthalmi
c injuries produced by launched water balloons; they determine water b
alloon kinetic energies in experimental and theoretical studies. Metho
ds: Six case summaries are presented; one case report was retrieved fr
om the literature; ten injuries were reported to the Consumer Product
Safety Commission. Energies were determined by field trials and calcul
ations. Results: Injuries included periorbital edema and ecchymoses, o
rbital contusions and hematomas, maxillary sinus hematomas, facial hyp
esthesia, eyelid lacerations, subconjunctival hemorrhages, corneal ede
ma and abrasions, hyphemas, traumatic iritis, iris sphincter ruptures,
iris atrophy, angle recession, iridodialysis, traumatic cataract, vit
reous hemorrhages, retinal hemorrhages, macular hole formation, optic
atrophy, and bony orbital wall fractures. Epidemiologic analysis revea
led that children and young adults, more often males, were injured, mo
st commonly in the warm weather months. In field trials, maximum water
balloon velocities ranged from 38 to 41 m/sec (85-92 mph) with kineti
c energies from 176 to 245 joules; by calculation, maximum velocities
ranged from 42 to 54 m/sec (95-121 mph) with kinetic energies from 141
to 232 joules, In a field demonstration, a slingshot-launched water b
alloon exploded a watermelon. Conclusion: Energies are comparable to o
r greater than those experienced with a variety of common objects, inc
luding some rifle bullets that are known to cause serious ophthalmic i
njuries. These energies are far in excess of those required to perfora
te a cornea, rupture a globe, or fracture the bony orbit. This study d
emonstrates the serious and potentially vision- and life-threatening i
njuries inflicted by these ''toys.''