Eye Injuries

Overview

An eye injury is any harm to the eye or the structures around it, such as the eyelids, the cornea (the clear front surface), or the tissues inside the eye. Injuries range from minor irritation, like a small piece of grit, to serious emergencies that threaten vision, such as a chemical burn or a penetrating wound.

Many eye injuries happen at work, during sports, while doing home repairs or yard work, or in motor vehicle crashes. Because the eye is delicate and vision is precious, prompt and correct first aid is important, and certain injuries require immediate professional care to save sight. A key general rule is to protect the eye and avoid rubbing or pressing on it after an injury. The majority of eye injuries are preventable with appropriate protective eyewear.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary with the type and severity of the injury. Common signs include:

• Eye pain, soreness, or a gritty, foreign-body sensation
• Redness and watering
• Blurred vision, double vision, or sudden vision loss
• Sensitivity to light
• Swelling or bruising of the eyelid and surrounding area
• Difficulty opening or moving the eye
• Visible blood on the white of the eye or a change in pupil shape
• A foreign object stuck on or in the eye

Sudden vision loss, severe pain, blood inside the front of the eye, a visibly cut or punctured eye, or a chemical splash are warning signs of a serious injury that needs emergency attention.

Causes

Eye injuries arise from many everyday and occupational hazards:

• Foreign objects: Dust, sand, metal shavings, or wood particles landing on or scratching the eye.
• Blunt trauma: A blow from a ball, fist, airbag, or fall, which can bruise the eye or fracture the bones around it.
• Sharp or penetrating objects: Tools, glass, or wire that cut or pierce the eye.
• Chemical exposure: Splashes of cleaning products, industrial chemicals, or other substances, which can burn the surface of the eye.
• Radiation and burns: Ultraviolet light from welding or strong sunlight, and thermal burns.

Risk Factors

• Working with power tools, machinery, chemicals, or in construction without eye protection
• Playing high-risk sports such as racquet sports, baseball, or basketball
• Doing home improvement, yard work, or welding without goggles
• Handling fireworks or cleaning chemicals
• Wearing contact lenses without proper hygiene (raising infection and abrasion risk)
• A previous eye injury or eye surgery

Diagnosis

A clinician evaluates an eye injury through examination and, when needed, imaging:

• History: How the injury happened, what hit or splashed the eye, and any change in vision.
• Vision check: Testing how well each eye sees.
• Eye examination: A close look at the eye, often with a special microscope (slit lamp) and a harmless dye that highlights scratches on the cornea.
• Eye pressure measurement: To check for changes after blunt trauma.
• Imaging: CT scans may be used to look for fractures or foreign objects, especially after high-force injuries.

Treatment

Treatment depends entirely on the type and severity of the injury, and prompt first aid can make a difference:

• Chemical splashes: Immediately flush the eye with clean water or saline for at least 15 to 20 minutes and seek emergency care. This is the single most important step for chemical injuries.
• Foreign objects: Small surface particles may be flushed out; do not try to remove an object that is embedded. A doctor can safely remove what remains.
• Corneal scratches: Often heal with antibiotic drops or ointment and pain control over a few days.
• Blunt injuries: A cool compress reduces swelling; serious blows need an eye exam to rule out internal damage.
• Penetrating injuries: Do not remove an embedded object or apply pressure; shield the eye loosely and seek emergency care, as surgery is often required.

What not to do matters too: avoid rubbing the eye, removing embedded objects, or applying pressure to a possibly punctured eye.

Prevention

Most serious eye injuries are preventable with simple precautions:

• Wear safety glasses or goggles for tools, chemicals, welding, and yard work
• Use sports eye protection for high-risk activities
• Read labels and handle chemicals carefully, keeping them away from children
• Wear seatbelts and use child restraints
• Follow safe contact lens hygiene
• Keep sharp objects and fireworks away from the face and from children

When to See a Doctor

See an eye doctor promptly for any eye injury with ongoing pain, light sensitivity, or a foreign-body sensation that does not clear after gentle flushing, even if vision seems normal.

Seek emergency care immediately for a chemical splash (after flushing the eye right away), any change or loss of vision, severe pain, a cut or puncture of the eye, blood inside the eye, an object stuck in the eye, double vision, or a blow that causes a misshapen pupil or bulging eye. These can threaten sight, and fast treatment offers the best chance to protect it.

Related Topics

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye injuries.
2. Mayo Clinic. Foreign object in the eye — First aid.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eye Safety.
4. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Eye injuries.