Padel and eye injuries

Padel is one of the most popular sports in Spain, and as its popularity has grown, so too have the number of consultations for eye injuries. The reason is simple: the ball is small enough to enter the eye socket without being stopped by the facial bones, and the game is played at close range, with the ball rebounding off the walls and changing direction.

What a ball strike can cause

A direct blow does not just result in a black eye. It can cause bleeding inside the eye, damage to the iris or lens, increased eye pressure, retinal tears or detachment and, in the case of severe blows, fractures of the orbital bones. Some of these injuries show hardly any symptoms at first and only become apparent days or weeks later.

How to reduce the risk

1. Wear approved sports protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses. Normal prescription glasses do not provide protection and may shatter on impact.
2. At the net, keep your racket at face height.
3. Do not turn your head to watch your partner hit the ball from the back of the court: this is one of the situations in which players are most likely to be hit by the ball.
4. Watch out for rebounds off the wall and for balls coming back after hitting the glass.
5. If you’re playing with children, take extra care to protect them: their reactions are slower and their eyes are more exposed.

These precautions also apply to squash and tennis.

If you receive a blow to the eye

• Stop playing.
• Do not rub or press on the eye.
• Apply a cold compress around the eye, wrapped in a cloth, without pressing directly on the eyeball.
• Consult your doctor as soon as possible, even if the discomfort seems minor.

Go to the A&E department at your nearest hospital if you experience blurred vision, double vision, visible blood inside the eye, severe pain, discomfort when moving your eye, flashes of light or a shadow over part of your vision.

In the days following the incident, the appearance of flashes, floating spots or a curtain obscuring part of your field of vision also requires immediate attention: these may indicate a problem with the retina.
Following a blow to the eye, a comprehensive examination of the back of the eye can rule out injuries that are not visible from the outside. At INOF, at the Teknon Medical Centre, we can assess you.