Q&A With an Eye Doctor

Screen Shot 2014-07-22 at 12.07.47 PMWho should wear eye protection?
Everyone.

Only hackers get hurt.
Wrong. Studies have shown that A players are injured as frequently as D players.

Doctors can fix my eye even if I get hit.
Wrong. Surgical results for traumatized eyes are usually disappointing. Nothing is as good as the normal eye. The best treatment is always prevention.

I know my opponents’ game, so there is minimal danger.
Wrong. I was hit in 1998 by an opponent I played every week for years.

Goggles always fog up.
Foggy lenses occur when the temperature of the lenses is considerably less than the air temperature, especially when the air is humid. Therefore, keeping the lenses in the car in the winter and putting them on just before play just won’t work. Warm up your protective eyewear in a pocket or sauna (briefly) and keep wearing, including between games, except for brief interludes to wipe away perspiration. There are antifogging chemical coatings available, too, but I would go with temperature control first. Sweaty lenses can be avoided with headbands or even visors and hats. Better yet—get in shape.

Screen Shot 2014-07-22 at 12.07.28 PMWhen should I get new goggles?
Not only should one protect the lenses from scratching in-between play but also regular inspection of the frames and lenses for cracks or yellowing. I have had two patients whose eye protection has failed because of pre-existent stress fractures in their lenses. If you keep dropping the frames, are hit by a ball or racquet, and/or leave your frames in the car in both summer and winter, your protective eyewear is more likely to fail. Consider replacing every two years.

What should I do if I get injured?
Ophthalmologists are not usually on call in the hospital when you arrive. Emergency-room doctors are much better trained about eye trauma than before, but it is crucial to insist on being seen by an ophthalmologist or opthalmology resident. Ask if there is an ophthalmology residency program with (preferably on-site) residents taking calls. Protect the injured eye with a gentle pressure patch or bandage. Do not rub it. Do not use random drops. Eat and drink nothing in case you need surgery. Try calling your regular eye doctor, wherever you are. He or she may be very helpful, even if hundreds of miles away. Or ask the club or school where you are if they can recommend an ophthalmologist; many times, there are several ophthalmologists who are either members or squash players or both.

—John S. Minkowski, MD