For more information about eye conditions, special tests and general eye health, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology website.
Eye injuries are common and can lead to vision loss or even blindness.
Eye injuries are common and can cause anything from minor scratches to the cornea to vision loss or even blindness. Even if you think an injury is minor or are unsure you have an eye injury, it’s best to get checked out by your eye doctor. In general, anything other than small scratches or grit in the eye may be potentially serious.
Signs of a potentially serious eye injury are:
Common causes of eye injuries are:
You may be more at risk of getting any eye injury if you:
What happened to your eye will determine what tests a doctor uses to make a diagnosis. First, your doctor will need to know exactly what happened to your eye. This will help him or her decide what diagnostic tests to use.
Below are some of the tests an eye doctor may use to make a diagnosis of an eye injury.
This test helps your eye doctor see if you’ve had any changes in your vision. You’ll be asked to look at an eye chart with different sizes of letters on it. Your doctor will test one eye at a time, with the other eye covered.
A slit lamp allows your eye doctor to view different parts of your eye up close to see if there are any problems. This device is called a “slit lamp” because it uses a bright line of light to illuminate the different parts of your eye.
Your doctor will perform a retinal exam to look for damage in the back part of the eye. Eye drops will be placed into the eyes to widen the pupils. Your doctor will then use a device called an ophthalmoscope to get a good look at your retina.
This test is used to see if you have any scratches on your cornea. Your eye doctor will put drops of a dark orange dye called fluorescein in your affected eye. He or she will then shine a special blue light into your eye. Any areas that are damaged will appear green.
In some cases, your doctor may order an X-ray. This will help him or her to see if you have a fracture in your eye bone, or if there are any foreign objects inside your eye.
If your eye doctor cannot see into the back of the eye, he or she may also order an ultrasound. This test uses high-frequency sound waves to create a picture of structures in the back of the eye.
How your eye injury is treated depends on what the injury is and how severe it is. Below are some general guidelines.
Most eye scratches and corneal abrasions are minor and will heal on their own within a few days to a week. Still, if you’ve scratched your eye, it’s a good idea to see your eye doctor. If you’re in a lot of pain or are having difficulty seeing, it is important to have the eye assessed quickly
Treatments you may be prescribed by your eye doctor include:
• Antibiotic eye drops or ointment to treat infection
• Steroid eye drops to treat inflammation
• Eye drops to lubricate your eyes.
Our eyes are good at flushing natural particles like sand or dirt out through tears and blinking. This is usually not an emergency. Man-made particles like metal or glass, however, may be cause for concern. These kinds of particles can stick in the eye and create lasting irritation.
Whatever the particle, if you continue to feel like there’s something in your eye, see your eye doctor or go to your nearest emergency room.
General tips for dealing with particles in your eye:
If your eye has been cut or punctured, see your eye doctor or get medical attention right away.
Carefully place a protective shield over the eye (e.g., bottom of a paper cup taped to the skin around your eye); be careful not to press the shield directly against the eye
DO NOT do any of the following:
If any chemicals get splashed in your eye or you suffer a chemical burn in your eye, follow these steps:
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For more information about eye conditions, special tests and general eye health, visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology website.
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