Overview
- Eye trauma can result in a range of injuries, both blunt and penetrating.
Types of injuries
Blunt trauma
Following the anatomical structures of the eye from front to back, the important injuries are:
- lid injury
- orbital blow-out fracture
- corneal abrasion
- anterior hyphema
- traumatic mydriasis
- lens dislocation
- vitreous hemorrhage
- retinal detachment
- traumatic iritis
- ruptured globe
Penetrating trauma
The major types of penetrating eye injury are:
- eye lid lacerations
- corneal lacerations
- scleral lacerations
- perforating trauma (+/- an exit wound) including occult foreign body penetration (e.g. when metal strikes metal)
There may also be associated injuries to:
- intraocular structures — e.g. lens, iris, retina
- extraocular structures — e.g. lids, extra-ocular muscles, orbital bones, optic nerve and brain
References and Links
Lifeinthefastlane.com
- Ophthalmology Befuddler 013 — Eyes Wide Split
- Ophthalmology Befuddler 031 — Blunt Trauma to the Eye
- Ophthalmology Befuddler 033 — Bashed, Blind and Bulging
Journal Articles and Textbooks
- Ehlers JP, Shah CP, Fenton GL, and Hoskins EN. The Wills Eye Manual: Office and Emergency Room Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Disease (5th edition). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008.
Leave a comment...