Burns can occur from contact with harmful chemicals (either household or industrial), hot steam or water, exposure to the sun or tanning beds, or household appliances, like a curling or straightening iron. They can also occur from flames or explosions.

If you’ve sustained chemical burns, either from acids (bleach or battery acid) or alkalis (like oven cleaner or fertilizer), flush your eyes immediately with cool, clean water for at least 15 minutes. Then seek medical attention.

Direct blows, also known as blunt trauma, can lead to significant damage to the eyelid, eyeball, or eye socket. They can often result in bruising around the eye (black eye) or cuts and tears to the eyelid. Sometimes, the seriousness of the injury can be missed, so it’s crucial to seek medical attention even if the eye looks fine.

Small foreign objects often enter the eye, like eyelashes and hair, makeup, dirt, or sand, but they can usually be removed by flushing your eyes with cool, clean water, artificial tears, or blinking. However, sometimes they can become stuck or scratch the cornea.

Although corneal scratches often heal on their own, you should still seek medical attention to avoid the risk of infection or other complications. If you can’t locate the object and the irritation continues, call our office.

Larger or sharp foreign objects, like glass or metal, can cause serious injury and require immediate medical attention. Objects like this can possibly puncture the eye, causing damage to the ocular structures.

If you have something embedded in your eye, never touch it, apply pressure, or attempt to remove it yourself. Call us immediately.

If you’ve experienced an injury to your eye or its surrounding area, watch for vision changes or signs and symptoms of infection.

Painful sensitivity to light may result from an injury or be a sign of eye disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Infection

• Blurred or impaired vision

• Pain in the eye

• A feeling like something foreign is in the eye

• Sensitivity to light

• Redness in the eye or eyelid

• Swelling in and around the eye

• Discharge from the eye

• Fever

Flashes and Floaters

Signs of retinal tears or detachments include:

• A sudden onset of flashes of light, like streaks, sparks, or flickers when you move your head or eyes.

• A sudden onset of floaters or shadows floating in your vision.

• Partial or complete vision loss in one or both eyes.

If you have experienced a traumatic eye injury and require medical assistance, call our office as soon as possible. If our office is closed or you need immediate help, call 911 or visit your closest emergency room.