Vision Centre

Eye injuries pointing to surfboard dangers
Courier Mail , 27 September 2002

surfboarding PICTURESQUE Gold Coast beaches are proving to be an "eyesore" for surfboard riders. Surfers are being urged to don special crash helmets and goggles after a study found surfboards were a major causes of eye injury on the Coast. Gold Coast Hospital eye registrar Benjamin Fleming, who conducted the study with eye specialists Peter Montgomery and Roger Welch, discovered 13 surfers were treated for eye injury at the hospital in the last 12 months. The injuries left three blind in one eye. Dr Welch said almost half the injuries were caused by the pointy nose of surfboards. Fins and leg-ropes were also culprits. He recommended protective measures such as rubber guards on the noses of boards, special crash helmets and protective surf goggles. "There's no doubt that surfing has a higher rate of sight loss than any other sport," he said. Former world champion surfer Wayne Bartholomew, who heads the Association of Surfing Professionals, said 11 of the eye injury victims treated at the Gold Coast Hospital were tourists, suggesting inexperience.

Home Page

Our Practice

Our Eye Specialists

◦	Dr Roger Welch
◦	Dr Andre Theron
◦	Professor Lawrence Hirst
◦	Dr Phung Vu
◦	Dr Dennis Stark
◦	Dr John Ambler
◦	Dr Cathryn Edrich

Our Day Surgery

Common Eye Conditions

◦	Cataracts
◦	More Facts About Cataracts
◦	Dry Eyes
◦	Floaters & Flashes
◦	Glaucoma
◦	Macula Degeneration
◦	Dry Macula Degeneration
◦	Wet Macula Degeneration
◦	Macula Degeneration Foundation
◦	Pterygium
◦	Retinal Detachment
◦	Watery Eyes

Technology

◦	Fluorescein Angiogram
◦	Humphrey Visual Field Analyser
◦	Intra-Ocular Lens Implant
◦	Optical Coherence Tomography
◦	Pachymetry
◦	Yag Laser Capsulotomy

Media

◦	Newsletter
◦	News
◦	Seniors Forum and Expo 2010
◦	Seniors Expo - Southport RSL - February 2010
◦	Louise sees off thief of Eyesight
◦	Andre Theron - dedicated to his patients
◦	Eye stabbing reminds surgeon of violence he saw in South Africa
◦	Double vision - Miracles save father and son's eyesight
◦	Surf is danger zone
◦	Eye injuries pointing to surfboard dangers
◦	Perfect waves prove an eyesore
◦	Eye specialist spies test rebate anomaly
◦	Vision Centre Day Surgery acheives four year ACHS Accreditation
◦	Reunion a sight for sore eyes
◦	Bush beckons our flying doc
◦	'Travel' doctor takes lease
◦	Fading sight puts brake on granny but there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
◦	All Seeing Eye. Word of mouth.
◦	Free Drugs for elderly with vision disease
◦	Dive Doc not alone
◦	Hidden scourge 'steals' eyesight
◦	A new vision

Testimonials

Personal Visions

◦	Vietnam Vision Project
◦	Donation - Phaco Machine and Humphrey Field Vision Unit
◦	Scuba Diving - Dr Roger Welch

Community

FAQ

Privacy

Site Map