Nerf wars are all in good fun… until all of the sudden they aren’t. In a new study out in the journal BMJ Case Reports, a pair of doctors at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London are raising the alert about the danger of Nerf blasters, which can seriously screw up your eyes if your friends are being stupid.
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Their case report looks at three separate incidents over a three month period in which patients showed up in the hospital emergency department with eye injuries resulting from a Nerf blaster. In one case, the Nerf blaster was armed with off-brand bullets with firmer heads, according to CNN. After being struck in the face with flying foam darts, two adult patients and an 11-year-old sustained internal bleeding in the eye.
In case it isn’t clear, internal bleeding in your eye is not a good thing. It can result in pain, headaches and blurry vision. With complications, the injuries could lead to serious eye conditions such as glaucoma, a disease that over time results in loss of vision.
“Significant Nerf gun ocular injuries are not reported in the literature, as far as we know,” the doctors write. “This case series serves to raise awareness of the seriousness of Nerf gun ocular injuries.”
The doctors suggest that protective eye gear might be advisable when engaging in Nerf warfare. If you want to avoid going blind playing with a Nerf blaster, that’s probably good advice. Take it from the pros:
Also, as a general rule, please don’t don’t aim for the face.