Unit 8: Eye Trauma
4: Injuries from Trauma
History
- Determine nature of injury
- With penetrating injuries important to consider speed of injury
- Hammering & Drilling are high velocity and there is higher risk of penetrating injury. A small fragment may enter the eye with no obvious trauma
- Grinding is lower velocity and has a lower risk of penetrating injury
- History important as ferrous material in the eye can cause siderosis which leaks toxic ions into the eye, these are retinotoxic and can impair retinal function irreversibly.
Caution
Do not apply pressure to the globe in a patient with a penetrating, perforating injury or where there is suspected rupture to the globe, when examining or carrying out investigations.
Do not apply pressure to the globe in a patient with a penetrating, perforating injury or where there is suspected rupture to the globe, when examining or carrying out investigations.