Jeremy Laurance: Loss of vision or blindness is a possibility

A ruptured eyeball is one of the most severe eye injuries. It may lead to loss of vision or blindness. The prompt treatment Mark Boucher received – three hours of surgery to repair the injury – will have minimised the damage.

Immediate and watertight closure of the wound is the first priority. Measures may also have been taken to prevent detachment of the retina. There is a risk of further damage as the eye heals caused by the formation of scar tissue. The outlook for Boucher is uncertain. Whether he can play cricket again – even at club level – may not be known for some time.