What eye injuries do optometrists commonly treat?
These are some of the most common types of eye injuries:
Scratched eye (corneal abrasion)
Scratched eyes often occur by getting poked in the eye or from rubbing your eye when a foreign object is in the eye. Scratches make you more vulnerable to an eye infection that can develop quickly, so it’s important to get medical treatment.
Foreign body in your eye
Having a foreign body in your eye is also called a penetrating injury. Foreign objects include anything from dust or sand to a sliver of glass or metal.
Blunt trauma
Blunt trauma refers to getting hit in the eye with an object. Two good examples are baseball and basketball, which are the top athletic activities responsible for eye injury. Balls, bats, and even elbows or arms while reaching for the basketball can cause blunt eye trauma.
This type of injury may cause bleeding inside the eye. It could also fracture the bones surrounding your eye.
What symptoms might I develop after an eye injury?
Although each type of eye injury has its own set of symptoms, these are some of the most common:
- Eye redness
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurry vision
- Double vision
- Pain in the eye or surrounding area
- Inflammation of the iris (colored part of your eye)
- Bruising
- Swelling
You may also feel like you have something in your eye, even if the injury isn’t related to a foreign object. It’s important to resist the temptation to rub your eye.
What can I do to treat my eye injury?
To protect your vision and eye health, you should always seek professional medical care rather than treat an eye injury on your own.
A minor scratch can cause potentially serious damage, and a foreign object or trauma is always considered an emergency.
As a general guideline, you should:
- Never rub your eye
- Never apply ointments or cream
- Never try to remove a foreign object
Try to keep the affected eye closed or gently cover your eye with gauze until you can get to your optometrist.
For every type of eye injury, the best thing to do is to seek immediate medical attention. Call Valley Eye Professionals or go to the emergency room, depending on the severity of your injury.
