In addition to yearly eye examinations, eye injuries are a common reason people may need to visit their optometrist. Most eye injuries are not severe, but require professional treatment as soon as possible to reduce the risk of further damage to the eye. Serious eye injuries involve traumatic damage to the eye that may promote blindness or loss of the eye. These types of eye injuries should be seen by an emergency room physician for immediate treatment. For minor injuries or irritations, you can seek treatment from our optometrist here at Best Eyecare Associates. Some common eye injuries we treat include:
Corneal Abrasions
Rubbing your eye when foreign bodies are in the eye, scratching the cornea with a mascara brush or getting poked in your eye are a few of the ways you can scratch your cornea. Symptoms of corneal abrasions include pain, excessive watering, and sensitivity to bright light. Deep corneal scratches also make the affected eye vulnerable to bacterial or fungal infections.
Black Eye / Swelling
When a hard object impacts the eye, bruising often occurs underneath the eye while the eyelid may swell and redden. In some cases, tiny blood vessels in the eye burst (subconjunctival hemorrhage) and cause deep reddening of the sclera (white eye tissue). Putting ice on the eye can help reduce swelling. However, if you get a black eye, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor for a complete evaluation of your vision and eye health.
Inflammation of the Iris (Traumatic Iritis)
Following an eye injury. you may develop iritis if the colored area around your pupil becomes inflamed. Signs of iritis include pain, abnormally shaped pupil, blurry vision, and headache. If you suspect you have iritis, visit your eye doctor for treatment as iritis carries a risk of vision loss.
Eye Bleeding / Hemorrhages
A hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel breaks between the sclera (white of the eye) and conjunctiva (it’s clear covering), causing blood to leak out. Subconjunctival hemorrhages are actually quite common. Sometimes the blood leakage covers the entire white of the eye, causing the hemorrhage to look worse than it really is. They are actually painless and do not cause any vision loss. Treatment is not necessary, as the eye will usually heal itself within a few weeks. If you have concerns about a hemorrhage, visit your optometrist for more information.
Contact our Optometrist for Eye Injury Care
Your eye doctor strongly recommends treating any type of eye injury as a potential emergency. Whether you need an eye examination or treatment for an eye injury, call Best Eyecare Association today at (303) 254-4888.