Corneal injury describes an injury to the cornea, the crystal clear (transparent) tissue covering the front of the eye.
See also: Corneal ulcers and infections
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe cornea works with the lens of the eye to focus images on the retina. Injuries to the cornea are common.
Superficial (surface) corneal injuries, called corneal abrasions, may be caused by:
You are more likely to develop a corneal injury if you work in a dusty environment, are exposed to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light for long periods of time, or if you overuse or have ill-fitting contact lenses.
Penetrating (deep) corneal injuries may occur with major trauma. High speed particles, such as chips from hammering metal on metal, are particularly dangerous.
SymptomsAnyone with severe eye pain needs to be evaluated in an emergency care center or by an ophthalmologist immediately.
Treatment for corneal injuries may involve:
Do NOT try to remove an object stuck in your eye without professional medical assistance. See: First aid for eye emergencies
A particle that is large enough to damage the cornea may not be seen without a magnifying glass or special eye drops that stain the eye.
You should avoid driving and other potentially dangerous situations while wearing an eye patch, since it can affect your depth perception.
If the corneal injury is due to a chemical burn, seek immediate medical attention. Many household products contain strong acids or other chemicals. Drain cleaners and oven cleaners are particularly dangerous. If chemicals are splashed in the eye, the eye should be immediately flushed with tap water for 15 minutes, and the patient should be quickly taken to the nearest emergency room.
Expectations (prognosis)Injuries that affect only the surface of the cornea normally heal very rapidly with treatment, and the eye should be back to normal within 2 days.
Penetrating corneal injuries are much more serious. The outcome depends on the specific injury.
ComplicationsSevere corneal injury may require extensive surgery or a cornea transplant.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if the injury has not significantly improved in 2 days with treatment.
PreventionSafety goggles should be worn at all times when using hand or power tools, when using chemicals, during high impact sports, or in other situations where there is a potential for eye injury. Sunglasses designed to screen ultraviolet light should be worn during prolonged exposure to sunlight, even during the winter.
ReferencesBrunette DD. Ophthalmology. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006:chap. 70.
Injury or infection of the cornea, the transparent front window of the eye, can lead to serious visual impairment.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 02/07/2011
Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Corneal injury describes an injury to the cornea. The cornea is the crystal clear (transparent) tissue covering the front of the eye. It works with the lens of the eye to focus images on the retina.
See also: Corneal ulcers and infections
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsInjuries to the cornea are common.
Injuries to the outer surface of the cornea, called corneal abrasions, may be caused by:
Infections may also damage the cornea.
You are more likely to develop a corneal injury if you:
High-speed particles, such as chips from hammering metal on metal, may become embedded in the surface of the cornea. Rarely, they may pass through the cornea and go deeper into the eye.
SymptomsA complete eye exam must be done. The health care provider may use a special stain called fluorescein, placed on the surface of the eye.
Tests that are used to examine the eye for damage to the cornea include:
TreatmentSee: Eye emergencies for information on immediate first aid.
Anyone with severe eye pain needs to be evaluated in an emergency care center or by an ophthalmologist immediately.
Treatment for corneal injuries may involve:
An abrasion or foreign object that is large enough to damage the cornea may not be visible without proper magnification or special eye drops that stain the cornea. Abrasions will often feel like foreign bodies in the eye.
Expectations (prognosis)Injuries that affect only the surface of the cornea normally heal very rapidly with treatment. The eye should be back to normal within 2 days.
Penetrating corneal injuries are much more serious. The outcome depends on the specific injury.
ComplicationsSevere corneal injury may require extensive surgery or a cornea transplant.
Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if the injury has not significantly improved in 2 days with treatment.
PreventionVinger PF. the eye and sports medicine. In: Tasman W, Jaeger EA, eds. Duane's Ophthalmology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkions;2009:chap 45.
Cameron JD. Surgical and nonsurgical trauma. In: Tasman W, Jaeger EA, eds. Duane's Ophthalmology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkions;2009:chap 6.
Sharma R, Brunette DD. Ophthalmology. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap. 69.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 07/28/2010
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Opthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Corneal Ulcer.
damage to cranial nerve II
The dangers of not seeking medical help for an eye injury ultimately is permanant blindness. Other problems can be permanent corneal damage or lens damage.
Nearsightness, farsightness, and astigmatism
Injuries are most common and can be caused by physical, chemical, and radiation causes. Infection can be a cause but is much rarer. Regardless, a qualified ophthalmologist should be consulted.
Injury to the cornea can occur because of chemical burns, mechanical trauma, or infection by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or protozoa. The herpes virus produces one of the more common infections leading to corneal transplant.
Normal anatomyThe cornea is the clear covering of the eye over the colored iris and the pupil.IndicationsCorneal transplantation is recommended for:severe corneal infection, injury, damage, or scarringcorneas that no longer allow light to pass through (opaque), often secondary to lens surgery (see cataract surgery), infections, and inherited diseases of the cornea.IncisionCorneal transplant is done with the patient awake and pain-free (local anesthesia). An incision is made around the outer edge of the cornea.ProcedureThe damaged cornea is removed and the corneal graft is stitched in place. The corneal graft is a transplant from a brain dead donor maintained on life support.AftercareTransplanted corneas have a long life expectancy. The benefits of corneal transplant are significant, and include significant improvement in vision.Reviewed ByReview Date: 07/28/2010Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Franklin W. Lusby, MD, Ophthalmologist, Lusby Vision Institute, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
injury layers also have injury layers because even if he or she was an injury lawyer he need it
An injury report is a document describing an injury and, sometimes conclusions about what caused the injury.
unintentional injury is an injury caused by accident.
A bleeding injury is an injury with blood coming out of it!
Death $4,459,000Incapacitating injury $225,100Nonincapacitating evident injury $57,400Possible injury $27,200No injury $2,400