• Eye trauma causes structural damage to the eye and is produced by mechanical force or contact with corrosive chemical
• Common among children are usually related to their involvement in vigorous play activities
- • Types of eye trauma:
- • Corneal abrasions
- • Blunt trauma
- • Perforating injuries
- • Chemical injuries
Pathophysiology and Etiology
Corneal Abrasion
• Produced when an area of the cornea is scratched
• Happens when foreign object becomes lodged in the eye, a contact lens rubs against the eye because of inadequate tear production, or a fingernail or other sharp object enters the eye and scrapes the cornea
Blunt Trauma
• Occurs when the eye and/or surrounding tissues are struck by a blunt object, such as a ball
• The resulting injury includes tissue swelling and seepage of blood into the surrounding tissues
• The bony structures surrounding the eye may be fractured
• The lens may be dislodged or the retina may separate from the back of the eye
Perforating Injury
• When an object penetrates the eyeball, there maybe loss of vitreous material and/or damage to the internal structures of the eye
• Bacteria may also be introduced into the interior of the eye, causing infection
Chemical Injuries
• Corrosive chemicals burn the delicate tissues of the cornea and may penetrate into deeper layers of the eye
• Healing may occur with scarring
Clinical Manifestations
• Pain:
- • because the delicate tissues of the eye contain nerve endings
• Increased tear production:
- • one of the eye’s defenses against injury or irritation
• Impaired visual acuity caused by:
- • Swelling of the cornea, reducing its clarity
- • Swelling of the soft tissues surrounding the eye to partially or completely close
- • Excessive tear production, impairing vision
- • Damage to internal structures of the eye, altering or obstructing visual pathways
• Injection of the blood vessels of the cornea:
- • increase of blood flow to the cornea is another protective mechanism
- • most likely to be seen with foreign bodies, abrasions, or chemical burns that affect the cornea
• Visible signs of injury:
- • Bruising
- • Swelling
- • A foreign object visible in the eye