Evaluation of Ocular Injuries among Athletes in Albania

Abstract

It is important to evaluate ocular traumas in athletes as they can cause visual loss as blindness. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology of ocular injuries and their characteristics in students aged from 19 to 23 years old in Albania. This is a 3-month study that started in November 2021 and ended in February 2022. 489 students of the University of Sports participated in the study. They answered a questionnaire about their demographic data and history of ocular injuries during sports activities. Students who reported ocular injuries underwent ocular examinations to evaluate their vision and ocular injuries characteristics. Only 7% of students reported that they had ocular injuries. Ball and teammates were reported with high frequencies as cause of eye injury. Only one student appeared to have reduced vision and damage to the structure of the eye. Sports-related ocular injuries can cause decrease of vision and the use of protective equipment during sports activities would prevent these injuries. Football and boxing were most commonly sports associated with ocular injuries among students in our study. This study points to the importance of preventing eye damage during sports activities by using preventive equipment, and opens the door for taking initiatives regarding the rules of using preventive equipment during sports activities.