What is Eye Trauma
There can be many different type of eye trauma, depending on the nature of the injury. Different injuries will vary is levels of pain, treatment methods, and average healing time. Some may be temporary, while others may cause permanent damage. Below is a list of eye injuries, with common causes, descriptions of their symptoms, and recomended treatments. For any type of eye injury it is important to seek out professional medical attention as soon as possible.- Scratched Eye – Medically referred to as corneal abrasions, scratched eye injuries happen after the eye is poked, or rubbed with a foreign object, such as dirt, sand, or other particulate matter. These injuries are very uncomfortable, and can cause redness of the eye and sensitivity to light. They also open the eye to risk of bacterial or fungal infection. If not treated quickly, these infections can possibly lead to blindness. Contrary to impulse, do not rub your eye, or place a patch over it, as bacteria can thrive in dark environments. Antibiotic and pain relieving eye drops can be prescribed by your doctor. Unless the injury is very severe, most corneal abrasions will completely heal, leaving no permanent damage.
- Foreign Object Penetration – If an object such as a splinter or fish hook penetrates the eye, seek medical attention immediately. Any attempts to remove the object yourself can make the injury worse. With some small objects, such as sharp metal fragments, they may become embedded in the surface of the eye, but not penetrate into the interior of the eye. If not removed, they may begin to rust over time, adding additional complication and risk. Any foreign objects, no matter how small, should be removed by your eye doctor as soon as possible. A course of antibiotics and pain medication may be prescribed.
- Caustic Foreign Substance – Any substance other than clean water that comes in contact with your eye will likely be very uncomfortable. While many may sting or burn, not all of them will result in serious damage. The pH of a substance will usually dictate how your eye will react. Acids will quickly cause redness and burning, but can be washed out fairly easily. Bases, or alkali materials, may not hurt at first, but can cause much worse damage. Examples of these include household cleaners and chalk dust. Whether splashed, sprayed, or rubbed in your eyes, you should try to flush your eyes out with clean, cool water for at least 15 minutes. Once your eye is flushed, seek out medical attention. Chemical burns have a low risk of infection, but the severity and duration of the injury will depend on the type and amount of chemical you eye was exposed to.
- Eye Swelling – Also called a black eye, this type of injury is cause by blunt impact from a fast moving object. The best treatment for this type of injury is a cold compress or ice pack. Usually these injuries aren't very serious, but you should see your doctor to rule out the possibility of any bone fractures or other internal damage.
- Eye Bleeding – The medical term for eye bleeding is a subconjuntival hemorrhage. This injury looks much worse than it really is, and involves bleeding from minor blood vessels within the eye in between the sclera (white of the eye), and the conjunctiva (the clear outer covering). This type of injury is very common, and is associated with many other types of eye injuries, even very minor ones. It only takes a tiny amount of blood to spread across a wide area, appearing as though the injury is large and extensive. In fact, these types of injuries are completely painless, often require no treatment at all, and have zero lasting affect on our vision. Within a few weeks the blood will clear and everything will return to normal.
- Traumatic Iritis – This injury to the iris, or the colored ring around the pupil, is the result of other types of eye injury, and is more of a side affect or symptom. Often found after blunt impacts, such as by a ball, hand, or other object, medical treatment is needed to properly heal. In some severe cases, even with proper medical attention, permanent vision loss is possible, either partial or complete.
- Orbital Blowout Fracture and Hyphemas - An orbital blowout fracture is a crack or break in the facial bone near the eye. A hyphema is bleeding in the space between the cornea and the iris. Both of these injuries are caused by a severe blunt force trauma, often happen simultaneously, and are both serious medical emergencies. In bad cases, surgery may be required to repair broken bones, and loss of vision is possible.
