What are the common causes of eye trauma. How to respond to different types of eye injuries. When to seek immediate medical attention for eye trauma. What treatment options are available for various eye injuries.

Understanding Eye Trauma: Types and Causes

Eye trauma encompasses any damage to the eye, its components, or surrounding tissues, including the eye sockets. It can occur whether your eyes are open or closed, and even a small particle like a speck of dirt can cause trauma. As one of the leading causes of vision loss, understanding eye trauma is crucial for preserving sight.

Common Types of Eye Trauma

• Corneal abrasions (scratched eye)
• Penetrating or foreign objects
• Eye swelling
• Traumatic iritis
• Hyphemas
• Orbital blowout fractures

Each type of eye trauma requires specific attention and care. Recognizing the signs and knowing how to respond can make a significant difference in the outcome of an eye injury.

Immediate Steps for Eye Injury Response

When faced with an eye injury, taking the right steps immediately can be crucial for preserving vision. Here’s what you should do for different types of eye trauma:

Corneal Abrasion

For a scratched eye:

• Avoid rubbing the eye
• Do not patch the eye
• Loosely tape a paper cup or eye shield over the eye
• Seek professional medical attention as soon as possible

Why avoid patching? Bacteria thrive in dark, warm environments, which can lead to infection.

Penetrating or Foreign Objects

If an object has penetrated your eye:

• Do not attempt to remove the object
• Loosely tape an eye shield over the eye
• Seek immediate medical attention

In cases of corneal foreign bodies (small, sharp pieces of metal embedded in the cornea), professional removal is essential to prevent rust ring formation and significant scarring.

Eye Swelling

For eye swelling due to blunt force:

• Apply an ice pack immediately
• Schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist within 24 hours

Even if it appears to be just a black eye, professional evaluation is necessary to rule out internal damage.

Medical Emergencies in Eye Trauma

Certain types of eye trauma require immediate medical attention due to their severity and potential for long-term vision damage.

Hyphemas and Orbital Blowout Fractures

These conditions are considered medical emergencies:

• Hyphemas: Bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye
• Orbital blowout fractures: Breaks in the facial bones surrounding the eye

Both are typically caused by severe blunt force trauma. In such cases, seek immediate medical attention or go to the nearest emergency room.

Professional Treatment Options for Eye Injuries

The treatment for eye injuries varies depending on the type and severity of the trauma. Ophthalmologists typically start with conservative treatments, resorting to surgery only when necessary.

Conservative Treatments

• Antibiotic drops for abrasions to prevent infection
• Gentle removal of foreign objects using specialized tools
• Corticosteroids and antibiotics to prevent glaucoma in cases of increased eye pressure

Surgical Interventions

In more severe cases, surgical options may include:

• Procedures to improve eye fluid drainage in glaucoma cases
• Repair of detached retina
• Reconstruction of damaged inner-eye structures

Can all eye injuries be treated conservatively? While many eye injuries respond well to conservative treatments, some severe cases may require surgical intervention to preserve vision and repair damage.

Preventing Eye Trauma: Safety Measures and Precautions

Prevention is always better than cure, especially when it comes to eye health. Implementing safety measures can significantly reduce the risk of eye trauma.

Protective Eyewear

Wearing appropriate protective eyewear is crucial in various situations:

• During sports activities, especially high-impact sports
• While working with tools or machinery
• In environments with airborne particles or debris

How effective is protective eyewear in preventing eye injuries? Studies show that proper eye protection can prevent up to 90% of sports-related eye injuries.

Safe Handling of Hazardous Materials

When dealing with chemicals or other potentially harmful substances:

• Always wear safety goggles
• Follow proper handling and storage procedures
• Have an eyewash station readily available

What should you do if a chemical splashes in your eye? Immediately flush the eye with clean water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical attention.

Long-Term Effects of Eye Trauma

Eye trauma can have both immediate and delayed effects on vision and eye health. Understanding these potential long-term consequences is crucial for proper management and follow-up care.

Potential Complications

• Glaucoma development due to increased eye pressure
• Cataracts forming as a result of blunt trauma
• Retinal detachment
• Persistent vision problems or loss

How long after an eye injury can complications develop? Some complications, like glaucoma or cataracts, may not manifest until months or even years after the initial injury.

Importance of Follow-Up Care

Regular check-ups with an ophthalmologist are essential after experiencing eye trauma, even if the initial injury seems minor. These follow-ups allow for:

• Early detection of developing complications
• Monitoring of healing progress
• Adjustment of treatment plans as necessary

How often should you have follow-up appointments after an eye injury? The frequency of follow-up appointments depends on the severity of the injury and the individual’s healing progress. Your ophthalmologist will provide a personalized follow-up schedule.

Advancements in Eye Trauma Treatment

The field of ophthalmology is continuously evolving, with new technologies and techniques emerging to improve the treatment of eye trauma.

Innovative Surgical Techniques

Recent advancements in eye surgery include:

• Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS)
• Advanced retinal detachment repair procedures
• Stem cell therapy for corneal regeneration

How do these advancements improve outcomes for patients with eye trauma? These innovative techniques often result in faster recovery times, reduced risk of complications, and improved visual outcomes compared to traditional methods.

Emerging Technologies

New technologies are revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of eye trauma:

• High-resolution imaging techniques for more accurate diagnosis
• Artificial intelligence-assisted analysis of eye scans
• 3D-printed ocular prosthetics for improved cosmetic outcomes

What role does artificial intelligence play in eye trauma management? AI algorithms can assist in quickly analyzing complex eye scans, potentially leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses, especially in emergency situations.

The Psychological Impact of Eye Trauma

Eye trauma can have significant psychological effects beyond the physical injury. Understanding and addressing these impacts is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Common Psychological Responses

• Anxiety about potential vision loss
• Depression related to changes in appearance or functionality
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially in cases of violent trauma
• Social withdrawal due to self-consciousness or vision impairment

How can healthcare providers address the psychological aspects of eye trauma? A multidisciplinary approach involving ophthalmologists, psychologists, and support groups can help patients cope with the emotional challenges of eye injuries.

Coping Strategies and Support

Patients recovering from eye trauma may benefit from:

• Counseling or therapy sessions
• Peer support groups for individuals with similar experiences
• Occupational therapy to adapt to vision changes
• Education about their condition and treatment options

What resources are available for patients struggling with the psychological effects of eye trauma? Many eye care centers and hospitals offer support services, including counseling and support groups specifically for patients with eye injuries.

Eye trauma is a serious concern that requires immediate attention and proper care. Understanding the types of eye injuries, knowing how to respond, and seeking professional help when needed are crucial steps in preserving vision. With advancements in treatment options and a comprehensive approach to care, many patients can recover from eye trauma and maintain good eye health. Remember, your vision is precious – don’t hesitate to seek help if you experience any form of eye injury.

Take These Steps Immediately if You’ve Suffered an Eye Injury or Trauma: Retina Specialists: Retinal Ophthalmologists

Take These Steps Immediately if You’ve Suffered an Eye Injury or Trauma: Retina Specialists: Retinal Ophthalmologists

Eye trauma is any damage that occurs to the eye, its component parts, or the surrounding tissues, including the eye sockets. Because it can result even from a speck of dirt trapped under the eyelid, the trauma may occur whether your eyes are open or closed. Trauma is one of the leading causes of vision loss, but it’s one of the least discussed.

At Retina Specialists, with five locations in and around the Dallas, Texas, area, our team of board-certified ophthalmologists has the experience and expertise to diagnose and treat all types of eye trauma, and because there are both immediate and delayed effects from any traumatic event, they want their patients to know what steps they should immediately take to help preserve their vision.

Common causes of eye trauma and what you should do about them

There are many different causes of eye trauma; here are some of the most common:

Corneal abrasion (scratched eye)

Abrasions of the eye’s surface may come from scratching the eye with your fingernail, getting poked in the eye, or rubbing the eye when a foreign body, such as a sand grain, is present. These scratches are painful and cause both eye redness and a severe sensitivity to light.

Abrasions can make your eye susceptible to bacterial or fungal infection, which can cause serious harm — even blindness — in as little as 24 hours.

If you have an abrasion, don’t rub the eye, and don’t patch it, either. Bacteria thrive in dark, warm places. Instead, loosely tape a paper cup or eye shield over the eye and come into our office as soon as possible for treatment.

Penetrating or foreign objects

If an object has penetrated your eye, such as a fish hook, don’t try to remove it — you could cause even more injury. Loosely tape an eye shield over the eye, then seek immediate medical attention.

It’s possible with this type of injury that you also have corneal foreign bodies, small, sharp pieces of metal that have become embedded in the cornea but haven’t yet penetrated into the eye’s interior. Since metal can quickly form a rust ring and significant scarring, it’s imperative that a doctor remove the pieces as soon as possible.

Eye swelling

If you’ve been hit in the eye with a ball or someone’s hand and your eye’s become swollen and puffy, the best first step is to apply an ice pack.

It may turn out that you have nothing more than a black eye (bruising), but you should make an appointment with our office within 24 hours so a doctor can determine if there’s any internal damage.

Traumatic iritis

This inflammation of the iris (colored part) surrounding the pupil occurs after an eye injury caused by a poke in the eye or a blow to it from a blunt object like a ball. It almost always requires treatment, but even with treatment, there’s a risk of permanent decreased vision.

Hyphemas and orbital blowout fractures

A hyphema describes bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye, the area between the cornea and the iris. Orbital blowout fractures are breaks in the facial bones surrounding the eye, like the orbit (socket). The two injuries are caused by severe blunt force trauma, such as getting hit with a baseball, a hockey stick or puck, or a kick to the face.

Hyphemas and blowout fractures are considered medical emergencies. Call our office for an immediate appointment, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Treating eye injuries

The type of treatment you need depends on the type and severity of the eye injury you sustain. At Retina Specialists, our goal is to preserve your vision, and we always start with conservative treatments, recommending surgery only if necessary.

If you have an abrasion, your ophthalmologist may prescribe antibiotic drops to prevent infection while the tissue heals.

If you have a foreign object in your eye, the doctor will use a magnifier and tweezers to gently remove it from where it’s embedded.

If your eye pressure dramatically rises after an injury or other damage, you’re at risk for developing glaucoma, a degeneration of the optic nerve that can cause blindness. The doctor can start you on preventive treatments like corticosteroids and antibiotics. 

If the high pressure eventually results in glaucoma, he may recommend medication to decrease eye fluid production or surgery to let the eye drain fluid more efficiently. 

Surgery may be required to repair badly damaged inner-eye structures, such as when the light-sensing retina detaches from its supporting tissue, usually caused by a blow to the head.

If you’ve suffered an eye injury, don’t wait to get help — your vision is too precious to lose. Give Retina Specialists a call at any of our locations to schedule an urgent appointment.

Can I Prevent Retinal Tears?

Retinal tears precede retinal detachments, and they’re a sign you could be set to lose your sight. Can you prevent them? Here’s what our experts have to say.

Life After Eye Trauma

Accidents happen, and your eyes can endure a traumatic injury from any number of different causes. Learn what you should do if you’re injured and what you can expect after suffering a trauma.

Ask These Questions at Your Next Diabetic Eye Exam

If you’re coming in for a diabetic eye exam, there are some questions you should ask to understand your underlying condition and your eye health. We’ve got them for you here.

5 Helpful Treatments for Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration can rob you of your central vision and make everyday tasks difficult, if not impossible, to perform. Fortunately, we have five helpful treatments for it.

Don’t Ignore These Signs of a Retinal Detachment

A retinal detachment is a serious eye condition that, if not rapidly treated, can rob you of your sight. Don’t ignore the signs of a retinal detachment.

Eye Socket (Orbital) Fracture | Boston Children’s Hospital

Listen

The orbit is the bony structure around the eye. An eye socket fracture, or orbital fracture, occurs when one or more bones surrounding the eye are broken.

• An orbital fracture usually occurs after some type of injury or a strike to the face. Depending on where the fracture is located, it can be associated with severe eye injury and eye damage.
• Some fractures don’t have to be treated immediately. Depending on the injury, we may recommend taking some time to allow for swelling and bruising to go away before treating the fracture.
• Surgery may be required for severe fractures, or if there is involvement of the eye.

Eye Socket Fracture | Symptoms & Causes

What are the symptoms of an orbital fracture?

Each child may experience symptoms differently, but the most common symptoms of an orbital fracture are:

• swelling of the eyelid
• bruising around the eye
• pain in the eye
• double vision
• decreased movement of the affected eye

Eye Socket Fracture | Diagnosis & Treatments

How is an orbital fracture diagnosed?

Diagnosis is usually made after a complete medical history and physical examination of your child. In addition, your child’s physician may also order the following tests to help confirm the diagnosis:

• x-ray: a diagnostic test that uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones and organs onto film
• computerized tomography scan (also called a CT or CAT scan): a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images of the body

How is an orbital fracture treated?

Your child’s treatment may include:

• A consultation with an ophthalmologist, a physician who specializes in comprehensive eye care, may be necessary for a complete evaluation of your child’s eye.
• Some fractures don’t have to be treated immediately. Depending on the injury, time may be allowed for the swelling and bruising to go away before the fracture is treated.
• Double vision will usually resolve without treatment in three to four days.
• Surgery may be required for severe fractures, or if there is involvement of the eye. Surgery may be performed immediately, or up to several days after the trauma.

Eye Socket Fracture | Programs & Services

Departments

Programs

Eye Socket Fracture | Contact Us

Eyes hurt: symptoms, causes, treatment

Medical advice

When and why does eye pain occur? In what cases should you go to the doctor, and in which you can cope with the problem yourself?

10858

07/24/2022

The organs of vision are sensitive to external and internal influences: injuries, colds, migraines – all this is reflected not only in general well-being, but can also cause pain in the eyes. Do not ignore this symptom, take care of your eyesight.

Contents

1. Causes of pain
2. Diagnosis of diseases
3. Treatment of diseases
4. Preventive measures and remedies
5. Consequences and complications

Causes of pain

Eye pain can be caused by various reasons: from fatigue at the end of the day to serious ophthalmic diseases and pathologies of the body. Therefore, it is important to monitor how you feel, track the moments during which discomfort appears, note what preceded this, whether discomfort occurs for the first time or regularly, and if there are any other health problems.

Pain from fatigue

The condition is usually caused by fatigue, therefore, it appears after serious or prolonged visual exertion (working at a computer, reading a large amount of documents, working in a poorly lit or dusty room, driving a car, etc.) – when the eyeball moves, it starts to hurt.

Often a problem can be solved by giving yourself a break. Close your eyes for a few minutes – if after resting the pain does not go away, you should consult a doctor to find out the reasons for its occurrence.

Infections and inflammations

Pain in the eyeball occurs with inflammatory ophthalmic diseases, such as conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis, as well as inflammatory diseases of other organs and systems.

Pain resolves if the disease causing it is cured. Therefore, patients are advised to contact not only an ophthalmologist, but also a therapist or other specialists, depending on the underlying disease.

Eye injuries

Pain in the eyes can also occur as a result of foreign objects (chips, sand, insects), burns of the cornea with steam or household chemicals, bruises of the eyeball. If we are talking about exposure to chemicals, the eye should be urgently rinsed with running water from the outer edge to the inner. You must immediately contact an ophthalmologist. The problem cannot be ignored, damage can cause the development of serious pathologies, up to loss of vision.

Dry eye syndrome

This syndrome is experienced by people who work at a computer or with documents in a dry, air-conditioned or dusty environment. The eye may not hurt, but turn red, start to water, itch.

With a problem, you should contact a medical specialist, he will select a treatment. Often the doctor prescribes drops, the composition of which is close to the composition of natural tears.

Advertising block

2 480P

4 850R

9 770Р

2 300R

Diagnosis of diseases

Seek medical advice if:

1. The cause of discomfort is unclear or impossible to get rid of. For example, a mote from under the eyelid cannot be removed without special equipment and tools.
2. The pain does not go away. Do not endure, you must immediately contact a specialist.
3. I have various vision problems. Shroud, flies, black dots, stripes before the eyes, blurred vision are also a good reason to consult an ophthalmologist. If the eyelids began to itch strongly, blush, then make an appointment.
4. You are injured eye area, cranial.
5. Additional symptoms have appeared. For example, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, hemorrhage under the conjunctiva of the eye, changes in the shape and size of the pupil, fever, weakness.

Interview, initial inspection

The ophthalmologist asks the patient about the nature of the pain, why, at what point it appeared, what provoked discomfort, whether the eyes can water or itch, if there are other complaints, and what kind of therapy was carried out. Next, an examination is carried out, which helps to find foreign objects, see redness, swelling, and determine the nature of discharge from the eyes. If necessary, it checks visual acuity and fields, measures intraocular pressure and examines the reaction of the pupil to light, which will allow drawing conclusions about the state of health of the patient’s eyes.

Laboratory, hardware diagnostic methods

If a survey with an examination did not give results or if a deeper examination is necessary, apply: examination of the fundus, cornea, lens, iris, membranes, ultrasound, bacteriological, cytological examination, radiography of the orbit.

Studies of various body systems

If the cause is not ophthalmic, the ophthalmologist will refer you to other specialists. Depending on the indications, they may prescribe a study of the brain, respiratory organs, blood vessels, and more. Additional diagnostic methods include: MRI, CT, ultrasound, etc.

Treatment of diseases

Methods of treatment can be medical, hardware, surgical – the choice depends on the cause of the pathology. It is important to remove swelling or inflammation, if present, to normalize the acute condition of the patient. But the main thing is to eliminate the problem that caused discomfort.

Medical therapy

Specialists may prescribe drops and other drugs for moisturizing, fighting infections, etc. These can be hormonal, antiviral, antibacterial, antiallergic drugs.

Hardware treatment

Massage, physiotherapy, reflexology, magnetic stimulation and other methods help relieve tension, restore microcirculation, relieve unpleasant symptoms of fatigue, and accelerate tissue regeneration.

Surgical treatment

The need for surgery arises in case of trauma or glaucoma.

Preventive measures and remedies

1. Rest. If work is associated with constant stress and visual stress, take breaks, get distracted from documents, a computer monitor, do exercises for the eyes, try to observe the regime of work and rest. So the eyes will itch less, watery, hurt.
2. Protect yourself from injury. Wear sunglasses and safety goggles.
3. Organize your workplace. Provide sufficient lighting, wear glasses with a spectral filter, install a humidifier, use moisturizing drops, etc.
4. Stay healthy. Eat right, cut bad habits, get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, get regular check-ups.

Consequences and complications

Pain cannot be ignored, this symptom can signal eye diseases, which in turn can lead to a number of consequences: the formation of a corneal leukoma, decreased visual acuity, the development of chronic diseases, problems with the nervous system, etc. Most complications can be prevented. The main thing is to take care of your health, do not ignore discomfort, and consult a doctor in a timely manner.

Advertising block

Headache. What’s with the neck?

“My head hurts, they said it was from my neck. Osteochondrosis on x-ray … “.

(From complaints at the reception).

Headache in cervical osteochondrosis is a fairly common occurrence. There is a term – “cervicogenic headache” , which suggests the initiating role of the pathology of the cervical spine in the origin of pain in the head, which can either be provoked or decrease, or disappear, partially or completely, under the influence of influences on the cervical spine (movements, manipulations, dry needle injections or administration of anesthetics).

Osteochondrosis is a combination of degenerative changes in the cervical spine and the body’s response to them. They develop over a long period of time.

At various stages of the pathological process, various factors play a leading role in the development of pain syndrome: herniation and protrusion of the intervertebral discs, followed by compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord, narrowing of the spinal canal and / or intervertebral foramina, instability of the vertebrae, leading to excessive displacement relative to each other other when moving, pathology of the intervertebral (facet) joints, ligaments and muscles.

It is the headache associated with muscle pathology that will be discussed in this article. In view of the vastness of the topic, as an example, consider a headache with myofascial syndrome of the splenius neck muscle.

The term myofascial pain syndrome (MFPS) refers to a complex of motor, sensory and autonomic symptoms caused by activation of myofascial trigger points. The latter represent an irritated area of ​​the skeletal muscle with a hypersensitive node located in it, determined by touch, located in a compacted muscle bundle. The presence of a reflected phenomenon is obligatory, i.e. pain, muscle spasms, narrowing or dilation of blood vessels, the appearance of which is associated with a trigger point, but manifested at some distance from it, and having a strictly defined localization, rarely coinciding with the projection of a peripheral nerve or dermatome segment. There are active and latent (inactive, hidden) points. The impact on the active trigger point enhances the patient’s characteristic complaints, while the presence of a latent one is manifested by local muscle tension, stiffness, increased fatigue, and a feeling of numbness.

In the presence of MFPS of the splenius muscle of the neck, patients usually complain of unilateral pain in the neck, head and eye, decreased acuity, blurred vision, photophobia, edema, mainly in the periorbital region, stiffness in the cervical region. Moreover, the pain spreads from the occipital region to the orbit, passing through the skull, as it were, through and through. The trigger (pain, trigger) point is located just above the middle of the neck, approximately two to two and a half fingers wide from the midline.

Factors contributing to the occurrence of pain include: work at the table, during which the head is constantly turned to one side, sleeping on an uncomfortable pillow, posture disorders such as scoliosis, stooping, physical work in a draft, etc.

The main methods of treatment are: mandatory elimination of provoking factors, manual therapy, massage, physiotherapy exercises, reflexology, physiotherapy (laser, ultrasound), chipping with therapeutic mixtures.