How to deal with eye trauma

Patient's question:

After impact, the eyes cannot see clearly

Doctor's answer:

Eye trauma is a common eye disease in clinical practice and a major cause of blindness. After the eye is injured, mild cases may result in vision loss, while severe cases can lead to complete loss of vision. This is primarily because the eye's structure is delicate and complex, and forces that would not cause harm to other parts of the body can damage the eye. The eye's structure is transparent, but trauma can cause this transparent structure to become cloudy, inevitably leading to vision impairment. Additionally, a penetrating injury to one eye can not only severely damage the injured eye but also trigger sympathetic ophthalmia in the healthy eye, which can lead to blindness in both eyes.
Eye trauma can be classified into two major categories: mechanical and non-mechanical. Mechanical eye trauma is further divided into blunt trauma and penetrating trauma. Non-mechanical eye trauma includes chemical trauma, thermal burns, and radiation trauma. The extent of damage to the eye, the severity of the injury, and the location of the injury can vary significantly. Some cases may only damage the skin of the eyelid and the superficial layer of the cornea, while others may cause anterior chamber hemorrhage. Severe cases may involve penetrating wounds of the cornea and sclera, leading to iris perforation, lens opacity, intraocular hemorrhage, retinal edema or bleeding, and even retinal holes or detachment. In some cases, foreign bodies may remain inside the eye.
The consequences of eye trauma are severe. Even with timely treatment, it is often difficult to fully restore the original visual function. Therefore, prevention is key.