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Optician has gained backing for its anti-gouging campaign (News 12.2.10) from the governing body of rugby in England, the Rugby Football Union (RFU), while a number of optometrists have also pledged their support for the initiative.

Explaining how he felt practitioners could help, Judge Jeff Blackett, disciplinary officer for the RFU, said: 'If opticians wish to help, the best way they can do so is deal with case studies where injuries have occurred and describe them in graphic detail. I was talking to an international who has been victim of an attack on his eyes and he was telling me how he still suffers, particularly in a dry atmosphere where he has to use some sort of gel as lubrication. This sort of story might make others think.'

Practitioners who have offered their support to the anti-gouging campaign include optometrist Colin Moulson from Black & Lizars in Glasgow, Dr Nick Dash, optometrist Amar Shah and Geraint Griffiths of Sports Vision UK.

Explaining why he felt it was such a serious issue, Moulson said: 'Eye gouging is an extremely dangerous practice, with potentially sight threatening consequences. Victims of eye gouging suffer injuries ranging from corneal damage to retinal detachment. Some of these injuries are inoperable and no action can save the sight of the affected eye, leaving the victim with a permanent disability.'

Optician clinical editor Bill Harvey also added his voice to those calling for an end to gouging. 'As one would expect, a blunt trauma to the eye with a dirty object (a finger) poses the threat of multiple problems. Any surface abrasion, particularly to the cornea, may not only be very painful but potentially trigger a serious keratitis or anterior uveitis. More vigorous blunt impact may affect the retina, causing an oedematous response or even, especially in those vulnerable, a retinal detachment,' he said.

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