Hazards of Malaysia’s Favorite Sport: A Case Series of Badminton-Related Ocular Injuries at a Single Tertiary Center

TL;DR

This study reports on seven badminton-related eye injuries, showing the need for protective eyewear to prevent serious vision damage.

Contribution

The paper presents a case series highlighting the preventable nature of ocular injuries in badminton and advocates for protective measures.

Findings

Most injuries were caused by shuttlecock strikes, with one from shattered spectacles.

Open-globe injuries required surgery and had worse visual outcomes.

Young male adults were the most affected group.

Abstract

Badminton is a popular recreational and competitive sport in Southeast Asia but carries a considerable risk of ocular injury due to high-velocity shuttlecock and racket impacts, as well as spectacle fragmentation. This series reported seven cases of badminton-related ocular trauma. Seven players in this series were predominantly young adults, with men representing the majority of cases. Injuries resulted primarily from shuttlecock strikes, while one patient sustained a penetrating wound from shattered spectacles. Clinical presentations ranged from subconjunctival hemorrhage, traumatic uveitis, traumatic hyphema, and commotio retinae to open-globe injury with corneoscleral laceration. Most cases were managed medically with topical therapy, while surgical intervention was required only for the open-globe injury. Visual outcomes correlated with injury severity, with penetrating trauma resulting in a poorer prognosis. This series highlights badminton playing as a significant source of potentially preventable ocular morbidity and emphasizes the importance of protective eyewear, particularly among spectacle users and young players. Increased awareness and enforcement of eye protection standards may reduce the risk of visual impairment associated with this widely played sport.

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