Eye Injury

Eye injuries can be caused by accidents—such as with fireworks, while playing sports, while working in the garden, or on the job. That’s why it’s very important to take proper precautions. For example, wear safety glasses when pruning and fireworks goggles when setting off fireworks.

An accident is a common reason why people receive an ocular prosthesis. In children, an object often enters the eye while playing or due to fireworks. In adults, the cause is often a traffic accident, a sports injury, or fireworks.

Sometimes, the injured but empty eye socket may remain in place. The prosthesis (scleral lens) is then placed over it. Open wounds to the eyeball caused by a blunt object are more likely to result in removal of the eye than wounds caused by a sharp object.

What should you do in case of an acute eye injury?

1. Calm the victim
2. Lay the victim down and tilt their head back slightly. Do not let the victim rub their eye. Never apply pressure to the eye (not even with a cold pack or a bag of ice cubes).
3. Look at the eye
4. Call 1-1-2 and follow the instructions

The ophthalmologist will try to preserve the injured eye for as long as possible by suturing the wound(s). If the injured eye is blind, a decision may also be made to remove it immediately.

Sometimes an accident can cause you to lose some or all of your vision in one eye. On this website, you’ll find tips for people who see with only one eye, information about ocular prostheses and eye removal surgeries, and the emotional challenges you may face.

Life after an eye injury requires, above all, adaptation and patience. With the right information and support, you can continue to carry out your daily activities.

Read about other people’s experiences with eye injuries in our online library. You can also join our WhatsApp community and select the “accident” group. Be sure to check out this video of Bonita’s experience.

We recommend that you visit a specialized eye hospital or an academic ophthalmology department (with expertise in cornea and oculoplastic/orbital surgery).