Eye trauma

Eye trauma refers to any injury to the eye. It is a regular event in children and a common cause of loss of vision. The National Society to Prevent Blindness states that about one-third of eye loss in children younger than the age of 10 is from trauma to the eye. Trauma from sports is very common. Some of the more recurrent injuries occur during the following activities:

• Hockey
• Archery
• Darts
• BB guns
• Bicycling
• Sports that involve rackets
• Baseball
• Boxing
• Basketball

Other common causes of trauma to the eye include the following:

• Chemicals
• Toys
• Fingernails

Any trauma to the eye of your child should be considered a medical emergency, and immediate medical care is necessary. Often, a younger child with an injury to the eye may need to be examined in the operating room under general anesthesia. Ophthalmologists (physicians who specialize in comprehensive eye care) are usually involved in the care of children with eye trauma.

There are many different types of eye trauma that require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed here are some for which we have provided a brief overview.

• Blood in the eye (hyphema)
• Bruising or black bye (ecchymosis)
• Chemical burns of the eye
• Corneal abrasions
• Eyelid lacerations
• Foreign bodies in the eye
• Fractures of the orbit