Car Accident Eye Injuries
Vehicle accidents frequently result in serious trauma, and trauma injuries are the leading cause of vision loss.
Eye Injury Causes
There are several common eye injuries caused by vehicle accidents:
- Retinal detachment. While an airbag is a valuable piece of lifesaving automotive technology, it also explodes with violent force. When an accident victim’s face or head comes into contact with a deployed airbag he can experience retinal detachment. This occurs when there’s a loss of connection between the retina and the rest of the eye, and emergency surgery may be required to prevent total vision loss.
- Trauma injuries. Blunt trauma may cause a subconjunctival hemorrhage, or bleeding from the eye. Even mild trauma can cause vision problems, such as visual acuity and field loss, binocular dysfunction, and spatial perceptual deficits.
- Lacerations and abrasions. In a violent vehicle collision, dust, debris, and glass fly through the air. Just a tiny speck of dirt lodged in the eye can cause pain and discomfort, and large foreign particles may cause corneal abrasions and lacerations. This can require surgery in order to avoid partial or total vision loss. The eyelid may also be subjected to lacerations, requiring treatment by an ophthalmologist or a plastic surgeon.
- Ruptures and fractures. Excessive force may cause the eye to rupture, which is known as a ruptured globe. Ocular surgery can sometimes repair these injuries, but many accident victims lose their eyes and must be fitted with prosthetics. A forceful blow to the skull can also fracture the orbital bone, which is the socket surrounding the eye. This is an extremely painful injury that may force shards of bone into the eye.
You Need an Attorney
If you’ve experienced eye injuries due to a vehicle collision, you should speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Eye injuries can impact every part of your life, and you need professional legal representation to help you receive the compensation you deserve. To learn more about what the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., can do for you, visit us on Facebook.