A leading eye surgeon in the southeast claimed yesterday that there had been a "massive reduction in both the scale and severity of eye injuries among hurlers since the introduction of compulsory protective helmets and faceguards for young players".
Dr Stephen Beatty, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Waterford Regional Hospital, also said that the only way to successfully export hurling to other counties from its traditional enclaves was by "enhancing the game's safety".
In January 2005, the GAA introduced new rules making the wearing of helmets and faceguards compulsory for hurlers aged 18 and under.
According to a recent audit by the eye casualty department at Waterford Regional, only two young players sustained severe eye injuries while playing hurling in the 12-month period since the new rules were introduced. This compared to 11 such injuries the year before.
Over the previous eight years, a study by the Health and Safety Executive at the accident and emergency departments of both Cork University and Waterford Regional hospitals found that 310 patients had attended with severe eye injuries sustained while playing hurling.
Of these, 52 (17 per cent) required admission to hospital and six (2 per cent) were blinded in the injured eye.
Dr Beatty, a Dubliner who "loves hurling", moved to Waterford five years ago and was "amazed" at the number of eye injuries being sustained in the sport.
He was also "shocked that there were no rules on safety headgear for the fastest game in the world".
He has campaigned on the issue since then and welcomed the announcement in April this year that the rules had been extended to players aged up to 21.
