Circumstance and outcome of ocular paintball injuries.

Abstract

To determine the circumstance and outcome of ocular injuries attributable to paintball projectiles. Retrospective interventional case series. Institutional review board approved retrospective chart review of 19 consecutive eyes with paintball injuries with minimum follow-up of 3 months. Ten eyes (53%) had final visual acuity of 20/40 or better, while seven (36%) were 20/200 or worse. Ten eyes were injured in paintball games, (two formal and eight informal), while nine (47%) were injured by accidents or assaults not associated with any "game." Paintball injuries often cause severe and permanent visual loss. Nearly half of these injuries occur outside a war game setting as accidents or assaults.