WHAT DO ADULT SQUASH PLAYERS THINK ABOUT PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR

Objective - To determine the attitudes of adult squash players towards protective eyewear. Methods - A survey of 197 competition and social squash players from seven squash centres in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia was conducted in September to October 1995. In formation about participation in squash, previous injuries, use of pro tective eyewear, barriers towards eyewear use, and attitudes towards p rotective eyewear was obtained by a self report questionnaire. Results - Squash is a popular sport in Australia. Of the players surveyed, 6% played in junior competitions, 67% in senior competitions, and 27% we re social players. Most had been playing for more than ten years. Some 15% of players had previously suffered an eye injury, most commonly c aused by a racquet. Less than 10% of players reported that they wore p rotective eyewear when they played squash, and 35% of these wore presc riptive lenses which they considered to be protective. The major reaso n for not wearing protective eyewear was the perception that it was un necessary. Poor vision and a lack of comfort were also stated as reaso ns by a significant number of players. More than half (57%) of the res pondents agreed that more players should wear protective eyewear, yet only 16% thought it should be compulsory for all players. There was co nsiderable support for protective eyewear use by junior players, howev er. Conclusions - The rate of protective eyewear use is low among comp etition and social squash players in Melbourne. The major areas that n eed to be addressed are the ignorance of the need for protective eyewe ar among social and experienced players and the mistaken belief that p rescription lenses provide adequate protection on a squash court.