The Save Sight Institute at the University of Sydney is currently undertaking a major study into surfing related eye injuries.

Whilst relatively uncommon, eye injuries sustained in the surf can have devastating, life long effects. After many years of treating such injuries, two Sydney doctors, Dr Raf Ghabrial and Dr Mark Gillett are seeking to quantify
just how many surfing eye injuries occur in a twelve month period in NSW. By collecting data such as the type of injury sustained, the surf conditions on that particular day and the experience of the surfer involved, the study seeks to identify factors linked to eye injuries. Identifying these factors may then help to initiate strategies to reduce the rate of surfing eye injuries.

For the information gathered to be useful it is important that the researchers record all of the injuries sustained in NSW in the next twelve months. If you or one of your friends has experienced an eye injury, the research team would love to hear from you. Please email them at surfboardinjuries@eye.usyd.edu.au. Participating in the study will involve a short survey involving the type of questions such as those listed above, taking about ten minutes of your time.

An interesting article discussing this research being carried out by the Save Sight Institute team, as well as how surfboard design and overcrowded surf spots continue to contribute to eye injuries can be found at http://www.mivision.com.au/exposing-the-danger

Further information on the study can be obtained by contacting the study co-coordinator Dr. Juliette Howden at the Save Sight Institute on surfboardinjuries@eye.usyd.edu.au.