Massage guns and retinal tears: doctors report percussive massage gun eye injury

Vibration-based remedies may be having a moment again thanks to massage guns, but the idea itself stretches back to the ancient Greeks.

Specialists are now urging caution after a man in his 20s used a massage gun on and around his eyes and injured the retinas at the back of both eyeballs.

He is not the first person to run into trouble in this way, although such incidents are rarely written up.

A case of retinal injury linked to a percussive massage gun

In British Medical Journal: Case Reports, ophthalmologists Niamh O'Connell and Ashraf Khan describe a young man who believed that massaging his eyes would ease feelings of tiredness.

He pursued the idea with commitment: for roughly three months, he repeated the practice weekly, and each session lasted several minutes.

The result was severe. The unusual approach to “fatigue” caused multiple retinal tears and significant bruising (commotio retinae) in both eyes.

In addition, the retina in his right eye had pulled away from the eye wall - a detachment called retinal dialysis - which can cause permanent loss of sight.

"The retinal tears and dialysis in this case are likely the result of percussive massage gun use directly onto the globe since the patient had no other risk factors for retinal pathology, such as high myopia, ocular surgery, or a genetic predisposition," O'Connell and Khan, from the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in the UK, write in their report.

"This is the first case of retinal dialysis with multiple bilateral retinal tears in the literature associated with percussive massage gun use."

Symptoms, diagnosis, and what the patient disclosed

When he attended for assessment, the patient complained of persistent floaters in his vision and intermittent episodes of photopsia (flashing lights appearing in the eyes).

At first, the cause was not clear. Doctors established there had been no recent head injury, and there was no family history of eye disease.

In time, the patient himself worked out what may have triggered the symptoms.

"When specifically asked about anything untoward involving the eyes, the patient reluctantly disclosed that he had been using a percussive massage gun both around and directly on both eyes," explains the report.

Fortunately, a course of laser treatment successfully repaired the damage, and he did not suffer any lasting impairment to his sight.

Others have not fared as well, with some people left with detached retinas and poorer vision after applying massage guns to the eye area.

The clinicians involved believe this patient recovered despite extensive injury because he sought medical attention only 6 days after he first noticed the symptoms.

Safety, regulation, and the call for clearer warnings

Because massage guns are not marketed to treat or cure any specific medical condition, they are considered low-risk wellness devices - and therefore do not need regulatory approval.

O'Connell and Khan argue that greater awareness is needed.

"Little is known regarding the safety profile of percussive massage guns," they write.

"In this case, the massage gun was commercially purchased and used without professional guidance. The patient reported no awareness of any warnings in the operating instructions against ocular use."

The report also points to a separate case of rhabdomyolysis (serious skeletal muscle damage) linked to using a massage gun on the thighs - a more typical application, but one that still carries risk.

As the authors note, the evidence base on the safety of percussive massage therapy remains limited, and there is no agreed set of standard guidelines for how these devices should be used.

Some studies suggest massage guns can boost muscle strength and flexibility and ease muscle pain - but if you do buy one, use it sparingly and keep it well away from your eyes.

"This rare presentation highlights the potential for significant retinal injury," write the ophthalmologists.

"It also underscores the need for cautious massage gun use, careful history taking [by doctors] in unexpected clinical scenarios and clear manufacturer warnings against improper application."

The case has been published in BMJ Case Reports.

This article was fact-checked by Rachel Garner and edited by Clare Watson. While we pride ourselves on our process, we are only human. If you spot a mistake, please let us know.