Ophthalmologists are warning the public to keep percussive massage guns away from the eyes following a documented case of severe retinal injury. A man in his 20s suffered multiple retinal tears and a retinal detachment after using the device directly on his closed eyelids to relieve eye fatigue.
The patient had been performing this routine weekly for three months. He eventually sought medical attention due to persistent floaters and flashing lights in his vision. According to a report published in the British Medical Journal: Case Reports, the man had no prior risk factors, such as high myopia or ocular surgery, leading attending physicians Niamh O'Connell and Ashraf Khan to conclude the percussive force was the direct cause.
The case was successfully treated with laser surgery, and doctors state the patient escaped permanent vision loss only because he sought help six days after symptoms appeared. The report underscores that massage guns are classified as low-risk wellness devices and lack strict regulatory oversight. The authors call for clear manufacturer warnings against ocular use, noting the patient found no such cautions in the instruction manual.