Seven common types of eye injuries and their treatment

Some eye injuries, such as deep lacerations or bleeding inside the eye, require immediate treatment or surgery to prevent permanent eye damage resulting in vision loss. If you're worried that you have injured your eye, visit an optometrist near you.

Other injuries — such as mild scratches to the surface of the eye — often require only monitoring after an initial visit to the optometrist to make sure complications such as eye infections don't occur.

Here are some handy tips about what to do for common eye injuries.

Scratched eye (corneal abrasion)

Eye lacerations usually require emergency care. Don't hesitate to visit an optometrist immediately.

A corneal abrasion is a scratch on the clear front surface of the eye. Causes include getting poked in the eye or rubbing the eye when a foreign body such as dust or sand is present . Corneal abrasions are very uncomfortable and cause eye redness and severe sensitivity to light. If you know something has scratched your eye, it's important to see your optometrist or GP or go to a hospital emergency department to seek immediate treatment for your eye injury.

Scratches also can make your eye susceptible to infection from bacteria or a fungus. Certain types of bacteria and fungi can enter the eye through a corneal abrasion and cause serious harm in as little as 24 hours, these can even result in blindness. This is especially true if whatever scratched your eye is dirty or contaminated, for example, corneal abrasions caused by a baby's fingernails or tree branches can cause a serious eye infection.

If you have a scratched eye, don't rub it. And don't patch your eye, either. Bacteria like dark, warm places to grow, and a patch might provide the ideal environment. Simply keep the eye closed or loosely tape a paper cup or eye shield over it. See your optometrist as soon as possible to check out this type of eye injury.

Penetrating or foreign objects in the eye

If a foreign object such as metal or a fish hook penetrates your eye, see an optometrist or go to a hospital emergency department immediately. You could cause even more injury to your eye if you attempt to remove the object yourself or if you rub your eye.

If possible, try loosely taping a paper cup or eye shield over your eye for protection; then seek help.

Your eye may also have corneal foreign bodies that are small, sharp pieces of a substance (usually metal) that have become embedded in the eye's surface (cornea), but have not penetrated into the interior of the eye.

Metal foreign bodies can quickly form a rust ring and a significant scar. Your optometrist or GP should remove these foreign bodies as soon as possible.

Chemical eye injury

Getting unexpectedly splashed or sprayed in the eye by substances other than clean, harmless water can be scary. Some substances burn or sting but are fairly harmless in the long run, while others can cause serious injury. The basic makeup of the chemical involved can make a lot of difference, such as:

• Acid. As a general rule, acids can cause considerable redness and burning but can be washed out fairly easily.

• Alkali. Substances or chemicals that are basic (alkali) are much more serious but may not seem so because they don't cause as much immediate eye pain or redness as acids. Some examples of alkali substances are oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and even chalk dust.

Chemical exposures and burns are usually caused by a splash of liquid getting in your eye. They can also be caused in other ways such as, by rubbing your eyes and transferring a chemical from your hands to your eyes or by getting sprayed in the eye by e.g. hair spray or other aerosols.

If you're splashed in the eye, put your head under a steady stream of barely warm tap water for about 15 minutes. Just let it run into your eye and down your face.

Then visit your optometrist or emergency department to see what additional care is recommended for your eye injury. Tell the person on the phone exactly what kind of substance got into your eye and what you've done about it so far.

If you know your eye is at risk because it's extraordinarily red or blurry, then just go immediately to your optometrist or an emergency department after you've rinsed it with water. You can put a cool, moist compress or an ice pack on your eye, but don't rub it.

Depending on the substance, the effects of chemical exposures causing eye injuries can range from minor irritation and red eyes to serious eye damage and even blindness.

Eye swelling

Eye swelling and puffy, swollen eyelids can result from being struck in the eye by any fast-moving object. The best immediate treatment for this type of eye injury is an ice pack.

You may have a simple black eye (bruising around the eye), but you should see an optometrist to make sure there's no internal damage.

Subconjunctival hemorrhage (eye bleeding)

This eye injury usually looks worse than it really is. A subconjunctival hemorrhage involves leakage of blood from one or more breaks in a blood vessel that lies between the white of the eye (sclera) and its clear covering (conjunctiva).

Subconjunctival hemorrhages are quite common and can occur from even minor injury to the eye. They may be limited to a small sector of the eye, or they can extend over the entire eye, making the white sclera appear bright red.

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is painless and does not cause temporary or permanent vision loss. No treatment is required. Over the course of several weeks, the blood will clear and the eye will return to its normal appearance.

Traumatic iritis

Traumatic iritis is inflammation of the coloured part of the eye that occurs after an eye injury. Traumatic iritis can be caused by a poke in the eye or a blow to the eye from a blunt object, such as a ball or a hand.

Traumatic iritis usually requires treatment. Even with medical treatment, there is a risk of permanent decreased vision.

Hyphema and orbital blowout fracture

A hyphema is bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye, the space between the cornea and the iris.

Orbital blowout fractures are cracks or breaks in the facial bones surrounding the eye.

Hyphemas and blowout fractures are serious eye injuries and medical emergencies. They are caused by significant blunt force trauma to the eye and face.

Steps to take after an eye injury

If you have any eye injury, contact your optometrist immediately or go to an emergency department right away for advice.

Once you are in professional care, be sure to mention if you wear contact lenses, so you can be advised whether to leave them in or remove them.

Depending on the type of eye injury, they may want you to flush your eye with water or saline solution. In more serious situations, you may need surgery.

Treat all eye injuries as potential emergencies, and never hesitate to contact or see an optometrist immediately. Don't take risks with your eyesight. Remember, you have only one pair of eyes.

WORRIED YOU INJURED YOUR EYE? Find an optometrist near you.

Page published on Monday, 16 March 2020