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A 3-year prospective study revealed 39 hospitalized cases of ocular injuries from seashore racketball sports. Most were children and young adults and most had internal injuries of the globe. Over a third had retinal edema, 2 eyes were blinded, and at least 4 are subject to serious future complications.

A nationwide prospective collaborative study on ocular trauma was performed in Israel during a period of 3 years (1981 through 1983). Almost half of the traumas (1127 [47%] of 2416 eyes) were sustained by children younger than age 17 years, and mainly between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Most of the injuries happened at home (38.1%) or in the street (26.8%) and during play and sport (65.1%). The male-to-female ratio among the children was 4:1. Blunt injuries accounted for 59.2%; 30.5% were perforating injuries and the rest were chemical and radiation injuries. The visual acuity at the time of hospital discharge was better than 6/30 in the majority of the eyes but 122 patients (11%) had a visual acuity of less than 6/60, and no light perception was the result in 40 eyes (3%). The reasons for the severe outcome were as follows: 23 eyes (2%) owing to phthisis, 22 eyes (1.9%) were enucleated, and 16 eyes (1.4%) suffered from endophthalmitis.

A nationwide study of patients hospitalized for ocular injuries was conducted in Israel during the years 1981 through 1983, with the participation of 17 ophthalmic departments. The study comprised 2276 patients (2416 eyes), 47% of whom were children. The male-female ratio was 4.3:1. Bilateral injuries occurred in 140 patients, with children sustaining the most severe injuries. Ocular injuries occurred most frequently at home, and children at play were most vulnerable. Most patients retained good vision, 3.7% lost vision totally, and 2% of the eyes had to be enucleated.

Orbital emphysema is usually described in association with fractures of the paranasal sinuses involving the orbit. We describe a rare form of orbital emphysema caused by high-pressure subconjunctival air injection from an air tube used in a garage, without apparent damage to the orbital walls.