Common Eye Injuries

There are many ways an eye injury could occur. Whether it’s through flying projectiles or a chemical reaction, wearing safety eyewear is one easy way to prevent these accidents from happening and maintaining good vision for years to come.

Here are some common eye injuries that can be prevented when you wear safety eyewear:

Scratched Eye (Corneal Abrasion)

Eye lacerations usually require emergency care, don’t hesitate and visit an eye doctor immediately.
Corneal abrasions are very common and can happen by something as simple as getting poked in the eye or rubbing the eye when a foreign body has entered it. They can be very uncomfortable and cause your eyes to turn red and bring sensitivity to light. If you know that something has scratched your eye, seek emergency care from an eye doctor or urgent care worker for treatment to prevent further damage.
If not taken care of, scratches in the eye can make it susceptible to infection from bacteria or fungus. Some types of bacteria and fungi can enter the eye through a scratch and cause serious harm in as little as 24 hours. The timing is especially true if whatever scratched your eye is dirty or contaminated.

Corneal abrasions are caused in many ways, but when it does happen, don’t rub it. Keep the eye closed or loosely tape an eye shield over it until you can see your doctor.

Penetrating Or Foreign Objects In The Eye

If you are faced with a foreign object flying into or penetrating your eye, you need to seek immediate help from a doctor. If there are small, sharp pieces of a substance (usually metal) stuck in the eye’s surface (cornea) but have not penetrated the eye’s interior, they can quickly form a rust ring and a scar. Get them removed as soon as possible to prevent scarring from occurring.

Chemical Substance In The Eye (Chemical Burn)

When you are unexpectedly splashed or sprayed in the eye by chemical substances, it can be easy to freak out. Some substances may burn or sting but are relatively harmless in the long run. Others can cause serious injuries depending on the chemical makeup of the product. If it is acid, it irritates the eye and causes redness and burning, but can be washed out pretty easily. It can be much more severe if it is an alkali, even if you don’t experience immense pain immediately, like acids. Common types of these substances are toilet bowl cleaners, oven cleaners, or even chalk dust. Depending on the substance, eye injuries can range from minor irritation and red eyes to severe eye damage and even blindness.

Splashes of liquids are not the only way chemical exposures can get into your eye. They also happen when you rub your eyes and transfer the chemical from your hands to your eyes. You can also get sprayed in the eye by aerosols such as hairspray.

If a chemical splashes into the eye, place your head under a steady stream of lukewarm tap water for about 15 minutes and let it run into your eye and down your face. Then call your doctor and see what they recommend for further care. If you are experiencing blurry vision or your eye is extremely red, immediately go to the emergency room or your eye doctor after rinsing.

Eye Swelling

Getting hit in the eye by fast-moving objects can result in your eyes swelling get puffing up. The best way to treat this is by applying an ice pack. A black eye may form, and you should also see an eye doctor to ensure there’s no internal damage.

Subconjunctival Hemorrhages (Popped Blood Vessel)

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is an eye injury that usually looks worse than it is. When it occurs, it involves leakage of blood from one or more breaks in a blood vessel that lies between the white of the eye and its clear covering. They are quite common and may expand over a small sector of the eye, or the entire eye may be affected, making the white appear bright red. A popped blood vessel is painless, and many don’t even realize they have one. There is no treatment, and over the next several weeks, the eye will return to normal.

Traumatic Iritis

If the colored part (pupil) of your eye is inflamed, this is known as traumatic iritis. Caused by a poke or blow to the eye from a blunt object such as a ball or hand. It usually requires medical treatment to prevent permanent decreased vision, so see your doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms.

Hyphemas And Orbital Blowout Fractures

A hyphema (high-FEE-mah) is bleeding in the eye’s anterior chamber, the space between the cornea and the iris caused by orbital blowout fractures. These are cracks or breaks in the facial bones surrounding the eye and are serious medical emergencies. It is caused by blunt trauma to the eye and face, such as getting hit by a bat or getting kicked in the face.

Prevent These Injuries With Safety Eyewear

All these injuries are preventable by wearing safety eyewear. They will protect your eyes from any projectiles entering, chemicals splashing, or even a poke or scratch. When you purchase a safety eyewear pair from SafeVision, you are putting your safety first, and that is our goal.