Education is way to prevent eye gouging

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.'