From Little League to the Pros — The Importance of Eye Protection for All Athletes

Dr. Pinkerton is a Chicago Blackhawks fan. And though the 2013 season ended in June with a happy ending for Dr. P — the Hawks won the championship and took home the Stanley Cup — he witnessed three months prior a cringe-worthy moment for any hockey fan, particularly an eye doctor, when New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal was struck in the eye with a puck. Guest blogger Rick Klingensmith has more on Staal’s injury and new uniform requirements that will go into effect next season as a result.

By Rick Klingensmith

With three months left in the NHL season, defenseman Marc Staal of the New York Rangers was struck in the eye with a puck. The damage was so extensive that Staal missed the rest of the regular season and only played in one post-season game. Staal said in a post-season press conference that the puck had torn his eye, resulting in discomfort and inconsistent vision, and that doctors had not given him a recovery timeline. With trades and contract negotiations in the works, it is no surprise that Staal has not since commented about the current state of his injury.

[pullquote align=”left”]Marc Staal’s eye injury leads to new NHL rule.[/pullquote] In addition to the laceration, it has been reported that Staal sustained a fracture to the orbital bone around the eye and damage to the tissue behind it. While we cannot speculate about Staal’s injury in particular, blunt trauma injuries to the eye are generally painful and can result in temporary, intermittent or permanent vision loss; blurred vision; and trouble moving the eye in its socket. Swelling and inflammation occur as part of the healing process. Returning to a high-speed sport such as hockey too early after an eye injury may worsen the swelling, because players must continually change their line of vision to track teammates and opponents, their position on the ice, and of course the puck. Due to swelling and other complications, a severe eye injury can keep a player off the ice for a long time.

Partly as a result of Staal’s injury, NHL members voted to make it mandatory for all new players (those with less than 26 games played) to wear protective visors on their helmets. The rule takes effect at the start of the 2013-2014 season. Staal was not wearing a visor at the time of the injury but voted for mandatory visors. All amateur hockey players are already required to wear full face cages while competing.

Paintballs, golf balls, baseballs, and an elbow or fist to the face can cause severe eye injuries and vision impairment. Some baseball fans may remember the close call Tigers’ third baseman Miguel Cabrera had during spring training early this year when a hard-hit short-hop struck his sunglasses. He suffered a minor fracture to the orbital bone. ESPN reported that the baseball left stitch marks on the lenses of his Oakley performance sunglasses, and that his eyewear probably saved him from much more serious injury.

As sports in general become faster and more competitive for younger players, it is important that protective gear and equipment evolve with the sports — and that leagues, coaches and parents stress the importance of protective eyewear.

Next month: August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, and Dr. Pinkerton will be back with tips to protect kids’ eyes during sports, at play, and while performing chores.