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  • Risk of Ocular Trauma From Gel Pellets

    By Jean Shaw
    Selected by Russell N. Van Gelder, MD, PhD
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    Journal Highlights

    Ophthalmology, May 2023

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    Lin et al. characterized the ocular in­juries experienced by patients who had been hit with gel pellets. Despite the perception that gel blaster guns are saf­er than paintball and air guns, the re­searchers observed significant anterior and posterior segment complications, including uncontrolled IOP in the set­ting of hyphema. They recommend eye protection similar to that worn for play with paintball guns for any individuals who play with or are near those who use gel blaster guns.

    For this retrospective consecutive case series, researchers at six centers pooled data on 19 patients (19 eyes). The patients’ average age was 17.8 years (range, 11-48 years), and 17 were male. On presentation, the average VA was 20/79, the median VA was 20/30, and the average IOP was 21.8 mm Hg.

    Of the 19 eyes, 12 received an ocular trauma score (OTS) of 100, five had an OTS of 89 or 90, and two had an OTS of 60 to 70. The two most common injuries were hyphema (12 eyes) and corneal epithelial defect (eight eyes). Three eyes had commotio retinae, one had a macula-sparing retinal detach­ment, and one eye had a nonclearing vitreous hemorrhage at presentation.

    Treatment included corticosteroid and cyclopegic drops in 16 eyes and ocular hypertensive drops in seven. In­vasive procedures were needed in seven eyes; these included anterior chamber washout or paracentesis (six eyes), orphan trabeculectomy (three eyes), pars plana vitrectomy (two eyes), and cataract removal and IOL implantation (two eyes). At last follow-up, the mean VA was approximately 20/41, median VA was 20/20, and two eyes showed count fingers and hand motion vision.

    Once reconstituted, gel pellets are 6 mm to 8 mm in diameter and are somewhat soft and pliable. However, as the authors noted, the pellets travel at a high velocity (at least 200 to 300 feet per second), and their force is concen­trated onto a small surface area. As a result, they said, high-quality protective eye wear is essential for all who are in the area when gel blaster guns are being fired.

    The original article can be found here.