Most children, especially males, have at least once in their lives had something to do with toy guns. These, in fact, are among the most popular toys and are used daily, even by adults. However, studies have shown that toy guns that shoot rubber bullets are not so safe and can cause serious eye injuries.
Clinical cases of eye injuries following the use of toy guns
A study published in the well-known journal BMJ documented three clinical cases of accidental eye injuries caused by toy guns that presented to the emergency department with pain, blurred vision and eye injuries.
In particular, all three subjects (two adults and an 11-year-old child) presented a accumulation of blood in the anterior portion of the eye (hyphema) and 2 out of 3 subjects, theuveitis. The child also presented a localised angular recession and edema of berlin (commotio retinae), which is a consequence of blunt trauma. A key element in determining the severity of eye injuries is also the distance from which one is struck.
In general, the eyes are the third part of our shot to be most prone to traumatic injuries. In these clinical cases, both paediatric and adult patients have been injured by toy-guns that are mistakenly thought to be harmless, instead causing severe eye trauma including hyphema, commonly associated with corneal injury.
Doctors in the field, therefore, recommend theuse of protective goggles in order to prevent even severe eye damage.
Source:
Bizrah M, Verma S. Nerf gun eye injuries: traumatic hyphema. Case report. BMJ Case Rep 2017. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-220967
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
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