Penetrating / Perforating Injury
An object penetrating your eye can be vision threatening. Penetrating objects pierce through the structure of your eye, and should only be removed by a medical professional.
At home, every day objects like pencils, pens and even sticks can become eye penetrating missiles. So can hammering nails, filing metal and working with tools. More danger lurks in your yard and garden. It only takes a split second for a normally harmless activity, such as mowing your lawn or trimming your bushes, to result in something lodged in your eye. And depending upon your job, the risks can be even greater. If something penetrates your eye, it is an ocular emergency that requires immediate attention.
The risk may be even greater for children, as they don’t realize how quickly child’s play can turn to an accident. For example, a stick used as a “sword” can easily penetrate another child’s eye. So can playing with pellet guns.
In some cases, a tiny piece of metal or a shard of glass can penetrate the eye and may not be visible to the naked eye. Therefore, if you have the sensation that something is in your eye, eye pain, redness, tearing and blurred vision, you should immediately contact your eye doctor.
Penetrating injuries can cause corneal, conjunctival, and/or globe lacerations, vitreous hemorrhage , and retinal tears or detachments. Over time, scarring can also lead to cataracts and glaucoma.
While not every penetrating injury can be prevented, wearing protective eye wear while working with hand and power tools can prevent many injuries.
What Should You Do in the Event of a Penetrating Trauma?
Penetrating trauma can happen to anyone. Therefore, you should develop an action plan before an emergency event occurs.
Step 1
The most important thing you can do is leave the penetrating object in the eye. To avoid further damaging the eye, such objects should only be removed by an eye care professional.
The most important thing you can do is leave the penetrating object in the eye. To avoid further damaging the eye, such objects should only be removed by an eye care professional.
Step 2
Patients with a penetrating eye trauma should see their eye doctor immediately. Until then, the patient should avoid touching or manipulating the eye.
Patients with a penetrating eye trauma should see their eye doctor immediately. Until then, the patient should avoid touching or manipulating the eye.
Step 3
If the patient wears contact lenses, do not attempt to remove the lens as this can cause further damage to the eye. The lens should be removed by the doctor.
If the patient wears contact lenses, do not attempt to remove the lens as this can cause further damage to the eye. The lens should be removed by the doctor.
Step 4
Call your eye doctor’s office. Explain that you have a penetrating traumatic injury. Provide as much information as possible, including a description of what is in the eye, its full size, how the accident occurred, etc. This will allow the office to prepare to treat the patient immediately upon arrival.
Call your eye doctor’s office. Explain that you have a penetrating traumatic injury. Provide as much information as possible, including a description of what is in the eye, its full size, how the accident occurred, etc. This will allow the office to prepare to treat the patient immediately upon arrival.
Step 5
Keep the patient calm until he / she can be seen by the doctor.
Keep the patient calm until he / she can be seen by the doctor.
How Is Damage from Penetrating Trauma Detected?
If you or your child suffers a penetrating trauma to the eye, a comprehensive examination will be required. This would include:
- External exam and gross assessment of vision
- Dilated eye exam / slit lamp examination: A comprehensive examination of the eye and retina.
- Tonometry: Measuring the intraocular pressure, if possible
- Ophthalmoscopy: Evaluating any optic nerve or retinal damage
How Is Penetrating Trauma Treated?
Treatment of the penetrating trauma will depend entirely on the results of your examination. Surgical treatment may be required to remove the foreign body from your eye. If a retinal tear or detachment is diagnosed, immediate laser or surgical treatment may be necessary to prevent permanent vision loss. Because cataracts or glaucoma can form as a result of trauma, other surgical or laser treatment may also be required at a later date.
Depending on the severity of the damage, further follow up examinations may be required to monitor how your eye is healing.
While some penetrating traumatic injuries can be prevented or minimized by wearing protective eyewear, not all injuries are preventable. Therefore, knowing the steps to take in the event of an accident is the key to preventing permanent vision loss in the event of a traumatic injury.
Primary Eye Care Specialists at Kadrmas Eye Care New England
Meet our ophthalmologists and optometrists who specialize in primary eye care and general eye health:
