Don't Take Your Eyesight for Granted!
Never guess about the severity of an eye injury. Seek medical attention as soon as possible following an injury, particularly if you have pain in the eye, blurred vision, loss of vision or loss of field of vision.
Types of Eye Injuries
The following types of eye injury may require treatment:
- Corneal Abrasions: A scratch to the cornea (the surface of the eyeball) often caused by toys, fingernails, contact lenses, or foreign bodies in the eye such as dirt, pebbles, insects.
- Chemical Burns: Household cleaning agents are a common cause of this type of eye injury and can result in loss of vision if not treated promptly.
- Fractures of the Orbit: When one or more bones surrounding the eye are broken.
- Black Eye: An injury to the eye that causes tissue around the eye to become bruised. An ophthalmologist should examine the eye closely to make sure there is no damage to the actual eye itself.
- Hyphema: Bleeding inside the eye in front of the pupil.
- Ruptured Globe: Eyeball surface is cut.
Signs and Symptoms of an Eye Injury
- Eye pain
- Vision changes/trouble seeing
- Cut or torn eyelid
- Changes in the shape of the iris or pupil
- Eyelid color changes
There are several simple first aid steps that can and should be taken until medical assistance is obtained.