Comprehensive Guide to Eye Injury Care: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Eye injuries are not to be taken lightly as they can lead to vision loss. So, learn all about the possible reasons, treatment and preventive measures to protect your eyes.
Written by Dr Sonia Bhatt
Last updated on 3rd Jul, 2025
Eye injuries commonly occur from sudden and unexpected accidents in indoor and outdoor conditions. They can be painful and be the primary cause of permanent vision loss. While minor impacts and injuries require regular monitoring and preventive care, severe cases may require surgery. Irrespective of the severity of the situation, it needs to be managed with care to minimise further damage. Additionally, individuals suffering from this condition must get emergency medical care and treatment to ensure no further damage to the eyes. However, to ensure the most comprehensive protection, people must be aware of eye injuries and their care procedures.
Causes of Eye Injuries
Eye injuries can happen due to several reasons –
Accidents: Accidents are one of the major causes of eye injuries. Vehicular collisions, falling on glass surfaces, and falling on furniture edges are some of the incidents that lead to eye injuries. Additionally, fireworks can also lead to serious eye injuries.
Workplace Hazards: Tradespeople and industrial workers risk eye injury from chemicals, radiation, or flying debris. Individuals working in welding, metalwork, construction, and manufacturing have a higher risk of suffering eye damage.
Sports Injuries: Contact sports such as boxing and football, as well as sporting events involving flying discs, balls, rackets, bats, or pucks, can cause eye injuries. Some sports mandate protective equipment to avoid eye injury, but not every sport has such measures.
Toys: Toys such as air guns, BB guns, and yo-yos are the common cause of eye injuries in children. Also, injuries can happen due to arts and crafts tools such as pens, scissors, and crayons.
Immediate First Aid for Eye Injuries
Immediate first aid is very crucial for eye injuries as it ensures that individuals do not suffer additional damages. Here are the steps people must follow as a part of it –
Not touching, rubbing, or applying pressure to the eye.
Not removing any particles stuck into the eye without doctor’s supervision.
Rinse the eye with clean water and try blinking multiple times to flush out foreign objects.
Refrain from using over-the-counter medication after the injury without the doctor’s advice as it would make it worse.
Apply a cold compress or ice pack wrapped in a cloth to reduce swelling.
In case of chemical burns individuals should immediately flush with adequate clean water. Also, they should try to identify the chemical that caused the injury.
In case of any of the injuries mentioned above, it is vital to seek emergency medical attention. Also, individuals should go for a check-up in case –
They experience any visual disturbance, black eye or pain even after a light blow.
If they feel like any object is still stuck in the eye, even after flushing it out.
They should always go to an emergency department of a hospital in case they can't contact an ophthalmologist on an immediate basis.
Types of Eye Injuries
Here are some of the major reasons for eye injuries –
1. Corneal Abrasions and Lacerations
Corneal abrasions are scratches on the cornea caused by fingernails, makeup applications, contact lenses, flying debris, or cat claws. These cause watering of the eyes, sensitivity to light, and pain. While minor abrasions may not cause problems, deeper ones always pose a significant threat.
Corneal lacerations, on the other hand, are severe and deeper cuts on the cornea. They occur when sharp metallic items such as hand tools fly into the eye. In this type of injury, the cornea may be cut so deeply that it damages the globe. \
2. Foreign Body Impact
Foreign bodies such as sand, metal shavings, shattered glasses, or lawn clippings can cause eye injuries. These elements irritate the eye and create scratches that further harm it. Additionally, they can cause infections.
3. Chemical Injuries
Chemical eye injuries occur due to liquid, solid, aerosol, or powdered chemicals. If the injury appears at home, it might be due to soaps, cosmetics, disinfectants, solvents, etc. In industrial setups, it can happen due to solvents and irritating chemicals. Chemical injuries at home are usually not severe in nature and can be managed by rinsing the eyes with cold water. However, industrial eye injuries due to chemicals should be treated on an emergency basis to avoid further complications.
Consult Experts for Suspected Eye Injury
Diagnosis of Eye Injuries
Every minor and major eye injury should be assessed immediately, as negligence can lead to serious consequences like vision loss. Thus, it is mandatory to contact an ophthalmologist after receiving first aid.
The common diagnostic tests for eye injury include –
An eye exam with special equipment to test the vision.
Imaging techniques including CT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs or X-rays to check the condition of the eye and the area around it.
Checking for any foreign objects in the eye.
Assessing how pupils get bigger or smaller when the eyes move.
Looking for symptoms such as bleeding, swelling, bruising, or wounds in the eyes or surrounding areas.
Treatment Options for Eye Injuries
Depending on the severity of the injury, the doctors decide the course of treatment, which includes surgical and non-surgical options.
1. Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Non-surgical treatments are often the first line of defence for minor to moderate eye injuries. These methods aim to alleviate pain, promote healing, and prevent further complications. Here are the options –
Medicated eye drops or ointments
Flushing or irrigation
Cold compresses
Oral medications
UV protection
Patches or bandages
2. Surgical Treatment Options
In case of severe injuries, surgical interventions become necessary. The options are –
Corneal transplant
Vitrectomy
Prophylactic Chorioretinectomy
Retinal surgery
Reconstruction surgery
Lens or implant surgery
Potential Complications of Eye Injuries
The potential complications of eye injuries include -
Vision loss and impairment: Severe ocular eye injury can lead to vision loss. Long-term effects of ocular and orbital eye injuries may lead to chronic double vision or complete vision loss.
Infection risks: If foreign objects can't be removed from the eye, these lead to infection.
Prevention of Eye Injuries
To prevent eye injuries, individuals should take safety measures during daily activities. These include -
Wearing safety goggles while using hazardous detergents and solvents.
Before using any sprays, the nozzles should be kept away from the face.
Be careful when opening the bottles of carbonated drinks or wine.
Avoiding a direct view of the sun, including solar eclipse.
Wearing protective eye gear while using a weed trimmer or lawn mower.
Ensuring that the edges of furniture do not have any sharp edges.
Wearing protective eye gear while working in an industrial setting, on the construction sites, handling fireworks, or using gaming equipment such as arrows, shoot pellets, paintballs, etc.
Wearing a helmet and polycarbonate face mask while welding.
Long-term Care and Follow-up
Long-term care of eyes include regular eye examinations, rehabilitation, and vision therapy. The regular eye exams help protect the eyes from permanent vision loss, double vision, bleeding, light sensitivity, and eye pain. They also help detect any underlying disease in the injured eye, such as glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, etc.
On the other hand, if individuals experience low vision, they should undergo vision rehabilitation, according to the recommendation of the healthcare provider. Also, doctors may suggest perceptual vision therapy to improve visual processing and understanding.
Conclusion
Eye injuries occur due to accidents, regular activities, and other unexpected scenarios. A mild injury requires first aid and regular monitoring by a doctor. However, proper diagnosis and treatment are necessary in case of severe injuries. Also, severe injuries have the risk of vision loss or double vision. Thus, individuals should be careful and adopt preventive measures while participating in regular home and workplace activities. These habits will help to protect them from eye injuries.
Consult Top ENT Specialists
Consult Experts for Suspected Eye Injury
Dr. Gurleen Kaur
Ent Specialist
14 Years • MBBS ,MS -ENT
New Delhi
Apollo 24|7 Clinic - Delhi, New Delhi
Dr. Anila Vishwanath
Ent Specialist
17 Years • MBBS,MS (Oto-Rhino-larynology)
Bengaluru
Hospitec multi-speciality hospital, Bengaluru
Dr. Sayan Hazra
Ent Specialist
8 Years • MBBS, MS (ENT), DNB (ENT)
Kolkata
Dr Sayan Hazra ENT Clinic, Kolkata
Dr. Riya Das
Ent Specialist
8 Years • MBBS, MS ENT(oto rhino laryngology)
East Midnapore
VIVEKANANDA SEBA SADAN, East Midnapore
Dr. Spandita Ghosh
Ent Specialist
7 Years • MBBS, MS
Kolkata
Health Connect, Kolkata
Consult Top ENT Specialists
Dr. Gurleen Kaur
Ent Specialist
14 Years • MBBS ,MS -ENT
New Delhi
Apollo 24|7 Clinic - Delhi, New Delhi
Dr. Anila Vishwanath
Ent Specialist
17 Years • MBBS,MS (Oto-Rhino-larynology)
Bengaluru
Hospitec multi-speciality hospital, Bengaluru
Dr. Sayan Hazra
Ent Specialist
8 Years • MBBS, MS (ENT), DNB (ENT)
Kolkata
Dr Sayan Hazra ENT Clinic, Kolkata
Dr. Riya Das
Ent Specialist
8 Years • MBBS, MS ENT(oto rhino laryngology)
East Midnapore
VIVEKANANDA SEBA SADAN, East Midnapore
Dr. Spandita Ghosh
Ent Specialist
7 Years • MBBS, MS
Kolkata
Health Connect, Kolkata
