10 Common Eye Injuries and Treatment

If you have ever been poked in the eye, suffered blunt eye trauma, or a bruised eyeball you already know that a common eye injury can cause a lot of pain. It is best to take great care of your eye health, and good vision during every stage of life. However, if you are like most people your eye health can take a lower priority than it deserves. Pay attention to your eyes, and use this guide to help prevent the 10 most common eye injuries. 

The most common types of eye injuries include: 

• Punctured eyeball
• Nail in eye
• Sclera abrasion
• Scratched white part of eye
• Scratch on the eye
• Chemical burn
• Penetrating objects
• Swelling
• Bruising (black eye)
• Bleeding (eye hemorrhages)
• Trauma
• Inflammation

10 Common Eye Injuries and Treatment 

If you have an eye injury and are worried that it could cause permanent damage to your eyes and vision, do not wait to contact Diamond Vision. You can talk to an eye specialist immediately about your eye injury, and get the answers to your questions about treatments that work for you.

• Penetrating objects

If you experience an eye trauma, and metal, wood, or another substance becomes trapped in the eye area, you may also sustain an eye injury. If it is possible to remove the substance from your eye, and seek help, do so immediately after coming in contact with the object. If you are able to protect your eye area continue to shield the area while you seek help.

• Punctured eyeball

Accidents, strenuous exercise, and other eye injuries can lead to deep puncture wounds. You may require immediate treatment, or even surgery to stop the damage from worsening. If eye damage occurs due to a punctured eyeball from a substance that you cannot remove, call Diamond Vision immediately to see an eye doctor for help.  

• Nail in eye

An abrasion on the eye can be caused by your own nails, or your child’s. It is very common for people to rub, or pull at their eyes after eye trauma. If you accidentally break part of your nail in the eye and are unable to get it out the piece can become embedded under the surface. It is important to remove any nail in the eye as quickly as possible in order to prevent scratching, lacerations, or scarring. 

NOTE: Watch out for infections caused by specific bacterial strains that can linger under the fingernails of your baby. 

• Sclera abrasion 

The sclera is the large white area of your eye. If it becomes injured it could be an emergency. If you notice an abrasion, or scratch on the sclera of your eye contact an eye doctor immediately. While a sclera abrasion is one of the most common eye injuries, it is possible for the eye injury to rapidly worsen. Always consider a sclera abrasion as a potentially serious eye injury, even though it is a common eye problem that affects the white part of your eye. 

• Scratch on the eye

Your eye can become irritated by all types of substances in your everyday environment. These types of abrasive substances may be liquid, sharp, or grainy materials. However, if you get a scratch on the eye, it can harm your eyesight. Because a corneal abrasion can damage your eye making it more prone to infections, you must protect the area.

Treatments for this common eye problem include prescription medications, protective eye-wear, removing the particles, and specialized contact lenses designed to speed the healing process. If you have an eye laceration, do not hesitate to call an eye doctor immediately even if you cannot see the scratch. 

• Inflammation 

Your eyelids are made of thinner skin than the rest of your body so it is common for the eye area to become irritated, clogged, and inflamed. Chronic eye inflammation can lead to numerous complications including corneal clouding, eye pressure (IOP), glaucoma, retina swelling, or even vision loss. 

• Infection 

An eye infection can take on many forms however, the most common types include viral, fungal, and bacterial infections like pink eye (conjunctivitis). You may not know immediately if the symptoms you have are associated with a common eye infection, or what type of infection you have before you review this short checklist of eye infection symptoms: 

• Eye redness
• Burning, aching, or other eye pain
• Discharge (eye gunk)
• Watering eyes
• Dry eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Swelling around the eyes, or in the eye
• Itchy eyes
• Blurred vision, or clouding 

• Black eye (bruising) 

Trauma to your eye area can easily damage delicate capillaries and other blood vessels in, and around your eye. If you participate in strenuous activities, sports, or you get into any type of accident it is common to experience eye bruising that is usually known as a “black eye.” 

Immediately after you notice eye bruising, apply a cold compress to the affected area. The swelling and inflammation may stop the bleeding. You can also use a bag of crushed ice or a cold gel pack. Call an eye doctor if you are not able to reduce the symptoms gradually over the course of 3 – 5 days of topical treatment.

• Caustic substances

These types of materials can cause injury to your eyes. In solid, liquid, powder, or airborne materials, chemical eye injuries are common. If you are suffering from an eye problem resulting from a caustic substance, rinse the eye area immediately with water. Then, report the chemical injury to an eye specialist. If you notice visible eye damage within one to five minutes of contact with an irritating substance, around the house, at work, or in an outdoor environment it could be an emergency. 

• Eye bleeding 

Eye hemorrhages are a common eye problem that can look worse than the problem actually is. Eye bleeding, or hemorrhaging occurs when a blood vessel breaks in one, or more areas of your eye. Usually, the blood will clear up in the eye, and your normal appearance will return in a matter of days. 

However, if the bleeding involves the entire area of the eye it could require treatment from an eye doctor. Eye bleeding can occur in one, or more areas of your eye, and also in the white area of your eyes over the entire area of the sclera (whites). In general, an eye hemorrhage does not cause vision loss.

Scheduling Your Eye Exam

The best way to take good care of your healthy eyesight and vision is to avoid eye injuries. However, if you have any of these 10 common eye injuries, or other eye problems call the offices of Diamond Vision, and schedule your eye exam with an eye doctor. Then, you can begin treatment for your eye problems along with any associated symptoms, or complications. Remember that any type of eye injury can potentially harm your good eyesight, or even permanently take your vision. So, do not wait to call Diamond Vision to schedule your eye exam.

If you’re from New York,  contact our Manhattan Eye Care Clinic.