Eyeball Injuries

Injuries to the eyeball: symptoms, treatment and prevention

The eyeball is one of the most vulnerable human organs susceptible to injury. Injuries to the eyeball can be caused by various reasons, including work accidents, home injuries, sports injuries, etc. Such injuries are accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the eyeball and can lead to various symptoms and complications.

Symptoms of injury to the eyeball can vary depending on the force of the blow, the location and area of ​​its application, the shape and size of the wounding object. Common symptoms include stinging and pain in the eye, watery eyes, photophobia, and blepharospasm. With a small impact force, the wound does not penetrate the entire wall of the eyeball (non-perforating wound). If the conjunctiva is damaged, there is hemorrhage around the wound. If the integrity of the cornea is damaged, there is a mixed injection of the eyeball, and the cornea is matte at the site of damage.

With perforated wounds of the eye, wounds of various sizes, shapes and locations are formed. With deep injuries, the internal membranes fall out and become pinched in the wound. There may be hemorrhages in the anterior chamber, vitreous body, and clouding of the lens. When its capsule is damaged, cloudy masses of the lens exit into the anterior chamber. The eye is soft, vision is sharply reduced. Complete destruction of the eyeball is possible.

Penetrating injury can be complicated by purulent infection, endophthalmitis, traumatic iridocyclitis, disease of the second eye (sympathetic ophthalmia). For penetrating eye injuries, x-ray examination is necessary to determine or exclude a foreign body in the eye.

First aid for wounds of the eyeball consists of administering antitetanus serum according to Bezredka (1500 AE), as well as removing superficial foreign bodies of the conjunctiva and cornea after drip anesthesia (0.25-0.5% dicaine solution) with a sterile cotton swab, bathtub, needle or chisel. Then you need to drip a 20-30% sodium sulfacyl solution or a 0.25% synthomycin solution into the conjunctival sac, apply 10% sulfacyl or 5% syntomycin ointment and cover the eye with a bandage for several hours. For penetrating eye injuries, emergency hospitalization to the ophthalmology department is necessary.

Prevention of eye injuries includes following safety rules at work and at home, using personal eye protection when working with dangerous tools and substances, wearing safety glasses when playing sports, and contacting a doctor at the first sign of injury or injury to the eye.

It is important to remember that injuries to the eyeball can have serious consequences for the health of the eye and require timely diagnosis and treatment. If you have symptoms of an injury to the eyeball, you should contact an ophthalmologist to receive qualified assistance.