Common Eye Injuries and How to Treat Them

Eye injuries can occur in many situations, but the most common causes behind eye injuries involve an object, particle, or chemical striking the eye. Seeking prompt treatment from your ophthalmologist near you is crucial for protecting your eye and vision health. Lavenburg Medical Group in Elkton, MD, and Newark, DE, can help determine the cause of your eye injury and provide appropriate treatment to prevent significant damage and vision loss. Continue reading to learn the most common types of eye injuries and how we can treat them.

Types of Eye Injuries

Eye injuries can occur in almost any setting but most commonly occur while participating in sports, work, and various outdoor and home maintenance activities. While an individual can suffer multiple eye injuries from a single incident, the following are the most common types of eye injuries:

•             Corneal abrasion: Dirt, grain, glass, or other objects scratch the cornea.

•             Chemical burns: Household or workplace chemicals splash into the eye.

•             Hyphema: External trauma or internal pressure results in blood in the whites of the eyes.

•             Traumatic iritis: External trauma or internal pressure causes the whites of the eyes to become bloody.

•             Bruised, swollen, or black eye: Physical trauma bruises the area surrounding the eyes.

•             Orbital fracture: Physical trauma breaks the bones surrounding the eyes.

•             Eyelid laceration: A fall or object cuts the eyelid.

•             Foreign body: An object becomes stuck in the eye.

Contact your eye doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of these eye injuries. Receiving prompt treatment is vital for preventing significant vision loss or blindness.

Treating Eye Injuries

While each eye injury can lead to permanent vision impairment, most injuries will be minor, temporary concerns. You should seek immediate eye care if you are experiencing severe pain, blurry vision, or pressure due to your eye injury. An eye exam will determine the cause and severity of your eye injury. Your eye doctor can then treat symptoms with antibiotics, remove foreign objects from the eye, or perform surgery to restore damaged eye structures if needed.

Your ophthalmologist near you can also provide several tips to prevent significant eye damage, including the following:

•             Always wear protective eyewear when working or playing sports to reduce your risk of an eye injury.

•             Avoid rubbing your eyes to remove objects or chemicals. Instead, blink and flush your eyes with clean water.

•             Do not apply ointments or over-the-counter eye drops without your eye doctor’s approval.

•             Apply a cold compress to limit bruising, but do not press on the eye.

•             Do not remove foreign objects from your eye. Your eye doctor can safely remove the object.

•             Do not take aspirin or similar blood-thinning medications.

Contact Lavenburg Medical Group to Treat Your Eye Injury Today

Prompt eye care from your ophthalmologist near you for an eye injury is integral for preventing significant eye damage and vision loss, so contact Lavenburg Medical Group in Elkton, MD, and Newark, DE, to protect your eye and vision health today. Call us and schedule an eye exam at (302) 993-0722 to get the treatment necessary to save your eyesight.