The World Squash Federation Annual in October 1997 approved a motion making it compulsory for eye protection to be worn by all players in World Junior Championships from 1 January 1999. Also the new rules of the World Doubles Game which are effective from the 10th of October, 1997 make the wearing of eye protection mandatory for all games at all times.
* THE OVERVIEW
The risk of serious eye injury in Squash is very low, but one in every four players will receive some form of injury of this type in their playing life. However, the risk of a player being blinded in Squash is TOTALLY AVOIDABLE. The consequences of a momentary lapse of concentration, or an accident, causing a lifetime of blindness are too severe for the WSF not to recommend eye protection and take every step to make it worn by all players.
* WHAT IS THE RISK?
Serious cases of eye injury result in hospital treatment, but the doctors and managers in them are generally too busy healing the sick to carry out studies on the causes of accidents in minute detail. So there are many studies on injuries through sport, some on eye injury in sport, but few on eye injuries through Squash.
From those that have been done in England, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, NZ, Australia, Canada and USA the following facts emerge:
o Eye injury occurs between 5 and 33 times per 100,000 playing sessions. A person has a 25% chance of receiving an eye injury in a playing career.
o In the UK there are an estimated 15,000 injuries per year.
o In Canada there were 280 recorded hospital admissions between 1982 and 1987, before mandatory eye protection.
o In 6 UK studies Football and Squash were the sports most commonly causing eye damage.
o In Australia 26% of all pennant players admitted to a previous eye injury.
* WHO IS AT RISK?
All players. No exceptions. Often beginners are less vulnerable because they do not turn around to watch their opponent. Better players keep their eye on the ball at all times and can be more at risk. Good players do get injured.
* WHAT CAUSES THE ACCIDENT?
Most players receive minor injuries to the eyebrow and eye surround from racket blows which do not require any more treatment than a dressing. Sometimes more serious accidents happen with the racket, but two thirds of all serious accidents, and almost all blind eyes, are caused by the ball.
An A grade player hits the ball at up to 200 kilometres per hour and it has 4 times the energy of a .22 bullet.
* WHAT DAMAGE OCCURS?
1. Hyphaema. Bleeding inside the eye. Long term complications and possible glaucoma.
2. Pupil injury. Tears to the iris can distort the pupil and lead to an inability to focus.
3. Retinal damage. Haemorrhage & swelling of the retina can permanently reduce vision.
4. Orbital fractures. Surgery is often needed and double vision or disfigurement can result.
* WHAT IS THE RESULT?
Blindness, even in one eye, can cause misery and ruin lives and careers. In Israel an air force pilot lost vision in one eye through a Squash ball, he lost his licence to fly and a future high earning job as a civil airline pilot. He was compensated by the courts against the club owners as they were judged to have not advised him of the dangers.
* WHY JUNIORS?
The WSF believes that making eye protection compulsory for Junior players in World Championships is the right route to start cultivating safe habits. Juniors accept the situation more easily than adults who have played for years without protection.
Our challenge is to make eye protection in Squash fashionable - cool as the kids would say. They wear knee pads and elbow protection when they roller-blade. Crash helmets when they cycle or play hockey. Gum shields when they play Rugby or Football. They are all part of the dress code and are seen as adding to the sport not detracting from it. And, in your judgement, which is the more serious - a grazed knee, a broken elbow, a missing tooth, a cut head and concussion or a blind eye?
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* THE FINAL FACTS
In Canada over 60% of adults wear eye protectors. Ten years ago it was 20%. T
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