Eye Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2,000 American workers sustain an eye injury on the job each day. Of those, over a hundred workers have to take at least a day off of work. It is amazing how much we rely on our eyes, not only for work, but to navigate through our world in general. Sometimes our eyes have extra protection from safety glasses, prescription glasses, or sunglasses. However, when accidents do occur, our eyes can easily become injured. After all, the only thing between the eyeball and the outside world, other than the eyelid, is a thin, delicate membrane called the sclera. The sclera can be punctured or damaged by any type of sharp or hard object, sand, light, or chemicals. They can also become injured from a hard blow to the head or face, which may cause damage to the optic nerve itself. If you suffered any type of eye injury, you need to contact an attorney to discuss your options for compensation.
Common Causes of Eye Injuries
Workplaces that have a high prevalence of eye injuries normally require safety glasses, but accidents can still occur momentarily when the safety glasses are not on or get knocked from the face. Construction, manufacturing, automotive repair, and healthcare jobs all have reason to take cautionary measures to prevent eye damage. Aside from the workplace, eye injuries are commonly seen in:
- Car crashes;
- Fireworks;
- During protests where police use rubber bullets;
- Punches; and
- More.
Types of Eye Injuries
- Foreign object penetrating the eye – If an object has penetrated the eye it is important to cover the eye up gently, a paper cup is a great solution, so that you can no longer use that eye to see. Then, seek immediate medical attention. Even if the foreign object is sitting on your cornea, it could cause scarring over time.
- Chemical burns – If you suffer a chemical burn to the eye, the first step you should take is to irrigate the area with room temperature water. If possible, have someone nearby call 911 while you continue to flush the eye with water until medical help arrives.
- Abrasion or lacerations – Abrasions and lacerations to the eye will first cause scratches on the cornea, which is the protective outer layer of the eye. According to an article published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the cornea is the most densely innervated structure in the body, which means that in addition to causing vision problems, these types of injuries can be extremely painful
- Blunt trauma – Blunt trauma can break the orbital bones around the eye or it can damage the eye itself. For instance, if an airbag deploys and hits the face it can result in retinal detachment.
Common Symptoms of Eye Injuries
If an eye injury is severe enough it can lead to permanent blindness. However, many eye injuries are not immediately apparent and may require a visit to a medical doctor or ophthalmologist before you have a proper diagnosis and treatment. Signs that indicate you should seek treatment as soon as possible include:
- Vision problems;
- Cut on the eyelid;
- Pain in the eye;
- Light sensitivity;
- An eye is bulging out of the eye socket further than the other;
- Trouble tracking movement or moving an eye in different directions;
- Blood in the eye;
- Unusual pupil shape or size; or
- An object feels stuck under the eyelid.
Was Your Eye Injury Caused by Another Person’s Negligence?
When someone else’s negligent behavior causes injury, a victim can file a personal injury claim in the civil court system. Injuries can be a huge financial burden. Medical procedures, treatments, and surgeries are all expensive and often injuries prevent a victim from working their normal job until they have recovered. With eye injuries, there is also potential that the injury is permanent blindness and that the disability will affect the victim for the rest of their life. Compensation through a personal injury claim can help a victim financially recover from this time.
Contact a Naples Personal Injury Attorney If You Suffered An Eye Injury
If you or a loved one suffered an eye injury from a car crash, workplace accident, or other trauma that another party was responsible for causing then you deserve to seek compensation. The skilled Naples personal injury attorneys at the law offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. can help you determine the worth of your case and advocate on your behalf with insurance companies. Contact our offices at 239-649-8050 to schedule your free consultation.
Resources:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4004679/
cdc.gov/niosh/topics/eye/default.html#:~:text=Each%20day%20about%202000%20U.S.,more%20days%20away%20from%20work.
/did-your-child-suffer-a-serious-burn-injury/
