How a Retina Specialist Can Help After a Traumatic Eye Injury
Traumatic eye injuries can happen to anyone, anytime, and knowing what to do next can feel overwhelming. Seeking prompt treatment is essential, as delays can lead to serious complications. Your eye doctor may refer you to a retina specialist, depending on the severity of the injury. Since the retina, a delicate layer of tissue at the back of the eye, is critical for vision, any damage to it can result in lasting vision problems.
Ocular Trauma and the Retina
Common traumatic eye injuries that can impact the retina include:
- Blunt eye trauma: Blunt trauma to the eye can fracture surrounding bones, potentially leading to dislocation, detachment, tearing, or damage to the internal structures of the eye.
- Eye burns: Exposure to chemicals, radiation or extreme heat can burn the eye.
- Eye scratches: Makeup applicators, fingernails, cat claws, contact lenses or flying debris can scratch the surface of the eye or go even deeper.
- Foreign body injuries: A foreign body is a particle in your eye that doesn’t belong there, like shattered glass or sand. Foreign bodies can scratch, irritate, and even infect the structures of the eye.
- Penetrating injuries: A penetrating injury occurs when a sharp object punctures the eye, such as fishhooks, darts, sharp tools, etc. They can cause bleeding and damage to the retina and other parts of the eye.
These injuries can potentially cause retinal tears, detachments, or other serious conditions that require immediate care.
The Importance of Immediate Treatment
Even if an eye injury appears to be minor and insignificant initially, it's crucial to consult an eye care professional as soon as possible. If untreated, even minor eye injuries can result in infections and, in severe cases, may lead to permanent vision loss or blindness. Once a specialist has evaluated your injury or treated it, they might direct you to take care of it at home using cold compresses or eye drops. When dealing with eye injuries, it’s always better to play it safe than sorry.
Treatment Options and Outlooks
The prognosis for individuals with traumatic eye injuries depends on the type and severity of the injury, as well as the timing of treatment. Starting treatment promptly can lead to better vision outcomes.
When you see your eye care professional with a traumatic eye injury, they’ll:
- Check your eye and surrounding tissues
- Test your vision
- Potentially order imaging tests, like X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs
- Provide oral pain medications if necessary
- Possibly refer you to a retina specialist for further examination
Retina specialists can perform surgeries to treat eye injuries, such as vitrectomies and scleral buckles.
Consult an Eye Care Professional Today
Traumatic eye injuries should always be taken seriously, no matter how minor. At Southeastern Retina Associates, we use advanced retinal treatments to help patients with traumatic eye injuries. If you’ve experienced a traumatic eye injury, please see your regular eye doctor as soon as possible, and they may refer you to one of our offices. We see patients in Chattanooga, Knoxville, the Tri-Cities, and more.