Eye Injuries

Although most people associate serious accidents with injuries like broken bones or whiplash, the reality is that some of the most severe injuries sustained by accident victims are eye-related. Whether an eye injury was caused by blunt force trauma to the head or exposure to a dangerous chemical, it can leave injured parties suffering from vision loss and other side effects for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, those who are injured as a result of another person’s negligence can collect compensation from the at-fault party to help cover the cost of medical bills, job loss, and pain and suffering. Filing a personal injury claim can be difficult, so if you suffer from the effects of an eye injury that you sustained in an accident, you should consider speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney about your legal options.

Trauma-Related Injuries

Eye injuries can stem from any one of a number of different types of accidents. However, eye damage tends to occur most often as a result of blunt force trauma, which can cause the following types of injuries:

• Orbital fractures, which occur when the facial bones surrounding the eye are crushed or broken;
• Vitreous hemorrhage, which involves bleeding in the eye;
• Ruptures;
• Hyphemas, which occur when blood collects between the cornea and the iris and can cause permanent vision problems; and
• Detached retinas, when the tissue that is sensitive to light separates from the rest of the eye.

The symptoms caused by these types of injuries are as varied as the injuries themselves, although victims can often expect to experience the following:

• Intense pain;
• Headaches;
• Blurred or double vision;
• Swelling;
• Sensitivity to light;
• Vision loss;
• Bruising;
• Bleeding; and
• Numbness.

While anyone can sustain an eye injury caused by blunt force trauma, this kind of damage is especially common amongst car accident victims and those who participate in contact sports, such as boxing or wrestling.

Foreign Objects

Some of the most severe eye injuries are the result of a foreign object flying into and lacerating the eye. Minor abrasions on the cornea usually heal on their own within a couple of days, but serious cuts can damage the structures inside of the eyeball or cause bleeding between the iris and hyphen. Those who work in certain industries are especially at risk of suffering from these types of injuries if they do not take certain safety measures. Employees who use power tools or dangerous chemicals, for example, should be equipped with safety goggles or face shields.

Chemical Burns

Another common cause of many eye injuries is exposure to hazardous chemicals, which occurs when a strong acid or alkali comes into contact with the eye itself. Although employees who work in chemical plants may be the most at risk of sustaining this type of injury, anyone who works with and around bleach, cleansers, certain fertilizers, and battery acid could sustain permanent damage to their eyes. Exposure to high intensity light or coming into contact with steam or hot air can also result in serious, and often permanent, eye injuries.

Consult with an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney About Your Case Today

If you sustained an eye injury in an accident, you may be eligible for compensation. To learn more, please contact Sabuco, Beck, Hansen, Massino, and Pollack, P.C. at (815) 730-8860 and we’ll help you schedule an initial consultation with a dedicated personal injury lawyer.