Diseases

Injuries In The Eye

DEFINITION: The most important cause of losses of vision in young people is eye injuries. Injuries to the eye and peripheral tissues are classified as chemical substance injuries, injuries by sharp objects, injuries by foreign objects, and blunt trauma injuries.


Figure 1. Corneal foreign body.

RISK FACTORS AND CAUSES: Chemical substance injuries may occur in workplaces or homes. Serious injuries may occur with alkali and acidic substances, such as detergents, cleaning agents, acetone, alcohol, battery, and lime that we often use in daily life. When using such substances, great attention should be paid, and these substances must be put in places out of children's reach. Serious damage occurs in the eye and its peripheral tissues in injuries by sharp objects. Such injuries may be caused by knives, glasses, or metallic sharp objects. Particularly children and people working in the metal industry are at the risk of such injuries. Injuries by sharp objects to the eye surface are the most common. Dust, fingernails, and small metallic small particles may harm the cornea. Blunt trauma to the eye and peripheral tissues occur due to a sudden hit by a punch, ball or rough objects.


Figure 2. Corneoscleral laceration (left), iridodialysis causing an associated hyphema (right) secondary to ocular trauma.

FINDINGS: Depending on the severity of injury, a wide range of findings may be seen from mild stinging in the eye to total loss of peripheral tissues.


Figure 3. Preoperative (left) and postoperative (right) appearance of a patient operated operated with the diagnosis of a full-thickness upper eyelid laceration at our hospital