Mechanical eye injury treatment. Eye injuries, their classification and treatment. What not to do

The eyes are one of the most sensitive organs, most susceptible to injury and damage.

Most often, eye injuries are diagnosed in young men (8 times more often than in the opposite sex); children injure their eyes 5 times less often than adults.

Medical statistics show:

• only 50% of people with eye injuries have unaffected vision;
• in 10-15% of patients, vision decreases to a minimum level;
• 5% of patients have to remove the eyeball due to serious eye damage.

In case of any injury to the cornea of ​​the eye, you must immediately contact a medical institution to provide qualified medical care! will do everything possible to save your vision!

Symptoms of eye injuries

The following symptoms are characteristic of any eye injury:

• photophobia;
• deterioration in the quality of vision;
• severe pain in the eye, headache;

Types of eye injuries

There are many different classifications of eye trauma; we list the most common ones.

Classification of eye injuries due to injury:

• sports eye injuries (impacts from sports equipment, bruises from a ball, etc.);
• combat eye injuries (impacts from a blast wave, shell fragments, injuries received when using “cold” weapons);
• industrial eye injuries (received while working with tools, on machines);
• eye injuries caused by emergency situations (chemical accidents, fire, etc.);
• household injuries to the cornea of ​​the eyes (impacts from heavy objects, limbs, contact with the eye, etc.).

Sometimes children's eye injuries are classified as a separate type.

Classification by severity

All eye injuries can be divided into 4 degrees:

• mild eye injury (does not reduce a person’s vision);
• average (decreased vision is temporary);
• severe (long-term weakening of vision function);
• especially severe (permanent loss of vision is possible).

Classification by depth of lesion

According to the depth of the lesion, they distinguish non-penetrating wounds (erosions, contusions,) and penetrating (injuries to the organs of vision with disruption of the integrity of the fibrous membrane).

According to the mechanism of manifestation, eye wounds are divided into the following categories:

• closed injuries eyes (wounds that do not damage the integrity of the eyeball) - contusion And non-penetrating wound ;
• open injuries - rupture of the eyeball and perforation.
• simple penetration - eye injury with one entrance hole;
• penetration with presence ;
• perforating wound - wound through the eye;

In addition, there are chemical, thermal and radiation burns.

Closed damage

Contusion - injury from a blunt object or blast wave, leading to eye contusion or concussion. All 4 types of concussion occur: from mild to particularly severe injuries.

Injury to the eye can be direct (direct blow to the eye) or indirect (strong blow to the head, which also injures the organ of vision).

Eye contusion leads to increased intraocular pressure, deformation of the eyeball and changes in all membranes of the eye:

• when the conjunctiva is damaged, hemorrhages appear;
• severe trauma to the cornea of ​​the eye can lead to clouding and the development of scars;
• scleral rupture is dangerous due to the possibility of intraocular bleeding;
• changes in the iris can lead to deformation of the pupil or to complete separation of the iris (traumatic aniridia);
• if the lens is touched during a contusion, this leads to its dislocation and movement into the posterior chamber of the eye, as a result of which post-traumatic may develop;
• When the retina of the eye is damaged, its first appearance is clouding, hemorrhage, rupture, and inflammation. And in later stages, eye injury leads to detachment and atrophy of the optic nerve.

Remember: even minor eye damage can lead to dangerous consequences in the future! Be sure to contact us if you have any problems with your vision!

Open damage

With an open injury, there can be both perforated and non-perforated wounds, threatening serious complications.

A person who has received an open eye injury may experience eyelid spasm, severe pain, possible swelling of the eyelid and bleeding from the injured eye, and severe visual impairment.

Destruction of the eyeball is indicated by a change in its size, severe bleeding, and clouding of the eye. The patient's temperature rises, sharp pain, swelling, and pus appear in the eye. In such cases, urgent surgical intervention is necessary!

Eye burns

With chemical, thermal and radiation burns of the eyes, the same symptoms of the disease can be observed:

• 1st degree - the appearance of swelling and redness of the eye tissues;
• 2nd degree - the appearance of small blisters on the eyelid and white scabs (dead tissue) on the sclera and cornea;
• 3rd degree - matte cornea and necrosis of the layers of the eye on half of its area;
• 4th degree - more than half the area of ​​the organ of vision is damaged, which leads to vascular disorders, deformation, perforation of the eye and even the appearance of charring.

Non-penetrating wounds

Non-penetrating wounds occur when sharp and small objects (small pebbles, sawdust, metal shavings, etc.) get into the eye area.

With this eye injury, the following symptoms are observed: the appearance of redness on the conjunctiva, photophobia, difficulty blinking, pinpoint, painful sensations.

You should not try to remove foreign bodies yourself, as this may complicate the situation. You can read more about the problem of a foreign body in the eye.

Diagnosis of eye injury

Treatment of eye injury begins with a thorough examination in the office for a foreign body in the eye and to identify bony injuries to the orbit).

First aid for eye injury

To properly assist a person with an eye injury, you must adhere to the following rules:

• if small particles get into the conjunctiva, you can try to wash them with running water;
• You should not try to independently remove a foreign body stuck in the deep membranes of the eye;
• the injured eye must be covered with a clean gauze bandage (cotton wool cannot be used!);
• in case of severe pain, it is recommended to take a painkiller;
• you need to contact us as soon as possible.

Treatment of eye injury

Minor and uncomplicated injuries are treated on an outpatient basis, while more serious eye injuries are treated in a hospital setting.

In case of injury to the eye membranes, surgical procedures are performed. For minor eye injuries, primary treatment of the wound is carried out, and in more serious cases, removal of foreign bodies from the eye cavity, plastic surgery of the eye and restoration of its structures.

Penetrating or blunt trauma to the eye is very dangerous for the organs of vision, because if first aid is provided untimely or incorrectly, a person may lose the ability to see forever. Damage to the fibrous mucous membrane of the eyeball with a sharp object poses a particular threat to the visual system. If the protein is punctured, its contents will leak out and then it will be very difficult to save the damaged eye and maintain normal visual functions.

Main reasons

Mechanical eye damage can happen anywhere. It is especially necessary to observe the rules of caution for men and women working in difficult working conditions, where the incidence of injuries is high. These are the professions of builders and repairmen, welders, drillers, glass cutters.

But sometimes, in order to injure the eyeball, it is enough to get a severe bruise, for example, with a ball or bump into a protruding branch, wire or even a pencil, hitting your head hard on a corner. Severe injury to the eyelid or mucous membrane is possible if the eye is accidentally hit with a needle, toothpick, or scissors. Chemical and thermal burns also often cause damage to one or both organs of vision. The list of root causes of eye damage is huge, but in case of serious damage, accompanied by acute pain and impaired visual function, emergency medical care is necessary, otherwise complications are inevitable.

Varieties

Damage to the eyeball is one of the most serious injuries.

Eye injury varies in severity. According to this criterion, the following types of damage are distinguished:

• Violation of the integrity or location of the internal structures of the organ.
• Macro- or microtrauma, accompanied by varying degrees of hemorrhage.
• Inflammation, in which the eye becomes red and watery due to a bacterial infection.
• Contact with the surface of the mucous membrane of a foreign body, as a result of which the organ can be severely injured.

Other types

Considering the severity and symptoms that accompany eye injury, the following types of damage are distinguished:

• Lungs. Such disorders in an adult or a child are often the result of microtraumas after minor bruises or a harmless small object getting into the eye. Microtrauma does not have a negative effect on visual functions, but if a person is hit, the eyes become red and bruised, it is worth visiting a doctor, even when severe symptoms and visual impairment do not bother you.
• Average. An eye injury of this nature occurs when there are serious bruises or when a person receives a moderate blow to the face. Often this level of damage occurs when an adult is hit in the eyes by a branch. Often these damages are accompanied by inflammation, and visual function temporarily deteriorates.
• Heavy. Such disorders occur when there is a severe injury, for example, if an adult injured the visual organ from a trauma, or there was a cut or the protein was damaged by a needle, toothpicks, or the sharp edge of a branch, due to chemical and thermal burns. In this situation, optical functions are significantly reduced, and if you do not immediately go to the hospital, a large percentage of vision may be lost.
• Very heavy. This includes perforation of the eyeball, open eye injury, ruptures, and penetrating injuries. Often in such situations, immediate surgical intervention is required, but this does not guarantee that the person’s vision will be fully restored. Often, if an adult stumbles upon a sharp object or manages to deeply cut the eye shell, visual functions are lost and cannot be restored.

Symptoms of the disorder

With microtrauma, there are no obvious signs or damage. May cause excessive lacrimation, increased sensitivity to light, or a feeling of a foreign body in the eye. In such a situation, proper treatment of the damaged organ is required; drugs are prescribed by the doctor after a diagnostic study. Completely different symptoms are disturbing if an adult managed to pierce the eye with a sharp object, for example, stick a needle into the white.

Damage of this nature is accompanied by acute pain, blepharospasms, dilation of conjunctival vessels, defects in the epithelial layer of the cornea, and impaired visual functions. If a person is hit hard in the face, he may faint, and those who have been beaten and injured are often bothered by headaches and clouding of consciousness. Similar symptoms occur with chemical or thermal burns. Ambulance in such situations is necessary, since it is impossible to help the victim at home.

Complications

Penetrating or blunt injuries to the eyeball, thermal and chemical burns often cause injury to the eyes of an adult or child or loss of visual function completely. The consequence of deep damage is a dangerous disease - glaucoma. Due to disruption of the normal outflow of intraocular fluid, additional complications progress, such as:

Damage to the eye can cause changes in the shape of the pupil.

• pupil displacement;
• swelling of the cornea;
• destructive changes affecting the vitreous body;
• increased intraocular pressure.

Another dangerous consequence of eye injury is traumatic cataract, in which the lens becomes cloudy, causing visual acuity to deteriorate. If such a disorder is not treated in a timely manner, the damaged lens will resolve and the patient will completely lose visual function. Often these complications can be prevented if first aid is provided correctly and the victim is immediately taken to the hospital.

First aid

If you correctly provide emergency care to the victim, you will be able to increase the chances of full restoration of visual functions and minimize the risks of complications. Depending on the nature of the injury, the algorithm of actions includes:

• In case of a cut injury, a sterile bandage is applied to the injured eye and fixed. To immobilize the wounded organ as much as possible, it is recommended to cover the other eye with dense material, such as paper. This will stop the synchronous movement of the eyeballs. There is nothing else to do; the next stage of treatment is to provide qualified medical care.
• If the cause of the eye injury is a blunt blow, for example, a ball hit the head, you need to apply a cold compress to the damaged organ and then go to the emergency room.
• In case of thermal or chemical damage to the mucous membrane, it is important to immediately rinse the eyes damaged by chemicals with running water, then cover them with a clean bandage and consult a doctor.
• If a sharp object, such as a needle, has penetrated the eyeball, it is forbidden to remove it. Cover the injured eye with a clean bandage and immediately take the victim to the hospital.
• In case of a penetrating wound, it is important to stop the bleeding. To do this, a clean bandage is pressed tightly against the damaged organ; the other eye should also be covered to stop the synchronous movement. Next, the doctor deals with the treatment.

Diagnostics

Damage to the organs of vision in children and adults is treated by an ophthalmologist. During the initial examination, the doctor will determine the nature and severity of the eye injury. For a more detailed study of the damage, a referral is given for microscopic examination and ultrasound of the visual system, with which you can examine the fundus, retina, and blood vessels. If the injury is penetrating, an x-ray examination will be required to help identify the foreign body inside the eye.

Injuries to the orbit and eyeball are often underestimated by victims and witnesses of the incident due to their external insignificance. Similar attitude may lead to partial or complete loss of vision, since eye damage can often have unpredictable consequences. That is why it is so important not only to act correctly when providing first aid to the victim, but also to immediately seek medical help, even if the injury at first glance seems trivial.

Photo 1. Even minor eye injuries require contact with a specialist. Source: Flickr (Kenga86)

Causes of eye injuries and symptoms

The vulnerable location of the eyes causes situations where accidental injuries(drops of hot oil, steam, small solid particles, etc.). In addition, frequent Pneglect of safety precautions and ignoring personal protective equipment in the form of special glasses leads to frequent cases of injury during professional activities.

The main signs of eye injury are pain, burning and lacrimation. They are inherent in absolutely any damage and will be greater the more serious the injury. Many other symptoms can only be determined using special ophthalmic equipment.

Blunt trauma

Damage usually occurs during fights, falls, accidents when a blunt object hits the eyeball with force. In this case, a contusion of the eyeball develops, varying in severity.

Note! Blunt eye trauma is characterized by impaired pupillary response to light and the appearance of hyphema and hemorrhages.

1st mild degree

Appears as mild pain syndrome And slight decrease in vision.

An expanded vascular network and possible minor hemorrhages are detected on the conjunctiva. The reaction of the pupil to light due to contusion is reduced, the pupil itself is narrowed. In the area of ​​the iris, a collection of blood (hyphema) up to 3 mm high can be detected.

Between the iris and cornea there is a space called the anterior chamber of the eye. It is filled with a special liquid - aqueous humor. Hyphemas accumulate directly in the anterior chamber.

Instrumental examination reveals minor corneal erosion, its clouding, swelling of the retina.

2nd average degree of damage

The victim complains about severe pain in the eye, photophobia, excessive lacrimation. Vision deteriorates significantly, however, it can still be corrected with auxiliary lenses.

The conjunctiva is swollen, covered with hemorrhages, and ruptures are possible. The cornea also shows swelling and hyphema up to 5 mm in height.

There is no reaction of the pupil to light; it is dilated and deformed. Partial ruptures of the iris are possible.

Instrumental examination reveals erosions on the cornea, subluxation of the lens, retinal edema in combination with pinpoint hemorrhages.

3rd severe degree

Pain, photophobia and lacrimation are extremely pronounced. The victim has difficulty determining the direction of movement of the hand in front of the face and the location of the light source.

The hemorrhages are extensive, the eyeball may have an irregular shape and be unnaturally soft.

The pupil and irises are not identified due to the presence of hyphema. Possible rupture of the iris, dislocation of the lens. The fundus of the eye is severely damaged, there are extensive hemorrhages under the retina and its rupture.

4th especially severe degree

This degree of contusion eyeball manifested in his crushing, separation or total loss.

Microtraumas

They are the most common (up to 90%) injuries to the eyeball. Occur due to the impact on the organ of vision of small solid particles (dust, sand, metal or wood shavings). At the same time, the particle sizes do not exceed 0.5 mm.

For microtraumas no visible damage, therefore, only the main signs of injury are determined.

The victim feels burning, itching in the affected eye, lacrimation. Often the injury is accompanied by blepharospasm - the inability to open the eyelids.

Burns

Burns often occur with gradually increasing pain syndrome, clouding of the cornea.

Distinguish chemical And . The former are often combined with the entry of a high-temperature foreign body (a drop of hot oil, a spark from a fire or welding machine, etc.), the latter are caused by acids (mainly acetic acid), alkalis (detergents), and disinfectant solutions.

Both types of burns are characterized by severe lacrimation, burning, pain, and if the cornea is damaged, blurred vision and the appearance of spots before the eyes.

For thermal burn a foreign body is often detected in the lower eyelid area, where it is washed away by tear fluid.

Penetrating eye injuries

Penetrating injuries have more pronounced clinical symptoms. In most cases they characterized by penetrating damage to the cornea or conjunctiva and the presence of a foreign body, passing through the membranes of the eyeball or an opening after it.

In this case, intraocular fluid may leak out. An instrumental examination reveals damage to the lens, vitreous body, and, less commonly, the retina. When long objects (knitting needles, branches) enter the eyeball, they may penetrate into the cranial cavity with the development of symptoms of damage to the central nervous system.

Such injuries are always accompanied by significant visual impairment.

Non-penetrating eye injuries

For non-penetrating types of injuries, it is inherent violation of the integrity of the cornea or conjunctiva without their through damage. As a rule, these are burns and microtraumas. Non-penetrating injuries have a better prognosis and almost never lead to vision loss.

All non-penetrating wounds will be similar to each other. These include all mild degrees of blunt trauma, burns, and microtrauma. In this case, erosion will be detected on the cornea, the conjunctiva of the eye will be swollen, with an expanded vascular network.

First aid for eye injury

To provide the most effective first aid for injuries to the eyeball, you should:

• Calm the victim, lay him on his back or leave him in a semi-sitting position;
• Avoid any physical activity, including walking or trying to sit down;
• Apply a sterile dressing on the injured eye, providing it with peace;
• Transportation of the victim must be carried out emergency medical team.

If there is a thermal or chemical burn, the damaged eyeball must be rinsed with distilled water. The procedure must be carried out by carefully washing the eye with the eyelids pulled back, but under no circumstances rubbing it.

Prohibited actions

Under no circumstances should you:

• Try remove a foreign body from the eye yourself, especially with penetrating wounds;
• Rub the eye, scratch it;
• Trying to neutralize a chemical burn other acids or alkalis;
• Apply yourself any drops or ointments;
• Use ice to relieve discomfort.

It is important! Errors in first aid can lead to complete or partial loss of vision.

Treatment of eye injuries

The choice of treatment tactics largely depends on the degree of damage to the eyeball and its structures.

For minor, superficial injuries, conservative treatment is preferable, while penetrating injuries cannot in any way be cured without surgery.

Conservative treatment

Consists of superimposing mono- or binocular blindfolds in order to give them peace and get rid of any stress. It can be combined with the use of eye drops or ointments. As a rule, such immobilization is used for a period of up to 10 days.

Note! In case of superficial damage, even if solid particles “stick” to the cornea, the epithelium will be renewed within a few days, which will completely eliminate the defect.

Surgical intervention

In the presence of penetrating wounds, lens trauma, retinal hemorrhages, iris ruptures, surgical treatment is mandatory.

In modern ophthalmology they use microsurgery technologies, allowing suturing of the lens ligaments and the iris.

In case of corneal defects, it is possible to carry out transplantation own or someone else's flap to restore its integrity.

Hemorrhages in the retina of the eye are coagulated using laser operations.

Medicines

Eye drops are widely used in both conservative and surgical treatment of eye injuries. The following drugs can be used:

• Any Tear replacers allow you to get rid of small foreign bodies during microtraumas;
• Drops containing diclofenac, zinc or sodium sulfacyl have a good anti-inflammatory effect;
• Ointments or drops containing antibiotics are used both for the prevention and treatment of bacterial post-traumatic infection.

Preventing eye injuries

The basis for preventing any damage to the eyeball is compliance with safety regulations and use of personal protective equipment.

This is especially important in the professional activities of people whose work involves chemical compounds or a large number of dust particles (laboratory workers, welders, carpenters, miners, etc.).

Date: 12/15/2015

Comments: 0

Comments: 0

• Causes of eye injury
• Necessary actions in case of eye injury
• Medicines for eye injury

When using eye drops for an eye injury, you need to be very careful, having studied their effect and how serious the damage you have received. The eyes are a very important organ in our body, influencing the course of our entire lives, so special attention should be paid to their treatment. The best solution would be to go to a good ophthalmologist in a clinic with modern equipment, with which the doctor can easily determine the cause and severity. Based on the examination results, the patient will be prescribed the necessary treatment.

Causes of eye injury

There may be several causes of eye injury:

1. Mechanical. The injury was caused by any sharp or blunt object.
2. Foreign body. Damage to the eye due to the penetration of various foreign bodies.
3. Thermal or chemical burns. Exposure to hot steam, boiling liquid, or exposure to chemically hazardous substances in the eyes that cause burns to the mucous membrane.

In most cases, eye injuries are microtraumas; penetrating injuries and burns account for about 10%.

Mechanical injuries are more common in children who do not know how to coordinate their movements and use objects that can cause damage to such a vulnerable organ as the eye. But there are many cases of this problem in adults.

Damage to small-sized foreign bodies is considered easier to treat if it is started in a timely manner. However, there are very serious penetrating injuries caused by foreign bodies that require surgery and long-term treatment.

A chemical burn can occur even as a result of using ordinary soap if it comes into contact with the mucous membrane of the eye. But the most dangerous are burns from acids and alkalis, and in such cases emergency medical care is necessary, otherwise complete loss of vision and further disability are possible. When the cornea is burned, sometimes a person does not feel much pain and does not notice visible signs of serious damage. And often for this reason, many do not go to doctors, but after a few days severe tissue changes develop, leading to irreversible consequences.

Eye injuries are classified according to severity depending on the location of the blow, the force with which it was made, the area of ​​the lesion, and the characteristics of the object that caused the injury.

The main symptoms of injury are cutting pain in the eye, a feeling of sand, profuse lacrimation, painful reaction to light, distorted images, involuntary spasms of the eyelids, sudden blurred vision or deterioration of vision.

Return to contents

Necessary actions in case of eye injury

It is very important to remember that under no circumstances should you touch the mucous membranes with dirty hands or try to remove a foreign body yourself!

This can provoke further infection and complicate treatment. After an injury, the eye is very vulnerable, because various infections can penetrate through damage to the cornea. In this case, you will have to treat not only the wound, but also the introduced disease. Therefore, all actions are performed with clean hands treated with an antiseptic solution.

Do not put pressure on the eye or rub it, which may make the situation worse. You can only use clean boiled water if necessary, but it is best to use antibacterial eye drops for this, for example, chloramphenicol or albucid.

For severe pain after an injury, you can use the painkiller inocaine (eye drops).

After treating the eye with drops, it is necessary to apply a sterile gauze bandage and urgently show the patient to a qualified ophthalmologist.

Return to contents

Medicines for eye injury

Let's look at the most effective medications for treating corneal injuries:

1. Korneregel is one of the best drugs used in ophthalmology. It has a wide range of effects from tissue regeneration in cases of cuts to the treatment of chemical burns. Corneregel contains the component dexpanthenol, which takes an active part in the restoration processes of the mucous membranes and skin. The drug is prescribed for diseases such as corneal erosion, infectious diseases, burns of various origins, as well as after eye injury and long-term wearing of contact lenses. Patients who have used this remedy note rapid healing of wounds, restoration of their previous condition, and a decrease in dryness and burning. Korneregel is a gel for instillation.
2. Solcoseryl is an eye gel that accelerates metabolic processes in tissues. When instilled into the eyes, it covers the damaged area for a long time, thereby facilitating the penetration of healing substances into the injured area of ​​the cornea. Activates the supply of oxygen and nutrients to cells. Has a fast regenerating and healing effect. Prescribed for mechanical eye injuries, burns (including chemical ones), for healing scars after surgery, and when wearing lenses. The active substance of the drug is produced from the blood of young calves.
3. Balarpan-N is a drug created from natural components that make up the natural tissues of the cornea. It has healing and restorative properties for damage of various origins. It is effective in the treatment of erosions, various injuries, corneal burns of various origins, keratitis and conjunctivitis. Also used for recovery after surgery. Helps eliminate dry eyes, helps adapt to contact lenses, eliminating irritation and pain. The drug is effective due to the natural substances it contains that are part of the human structure.
4. Vitasik - eye drops for the regeneration of mucous tissues. They are used for rapid healing of various types of wounds of the eye membranes. They are a sterile transparent solution for instillation into the eyes. The drug improves metabolic processes in tissues, thereby accelerating the recovery of damaged areas. When applied to the cornea it has protective properties. To avoid damage to the mucous membranes from lenses, it is recommended to instill eye drops with the solution a few minutes after removing them. Prescribed for the treatment of various injuries and infectious diseases, as well as for the protection of mucous membranes.
5. Hyphenosis - eye drops that create a protective film, softening and nourishing the membrane of the eye. Accelerate the healing of damaged corneal tissue after injury, burn or surgery. Prescribed to people who constantly work at a computer to eliminate dry eye syndrome, fatigue and burning eyes. The drug has moisturizing and nourishing properties. Restores the tear film, reduces discomfort and the feeling of sand in the eyes.

All of the above medications should be used only after consultation with an ophthalmologist! you can provide only the necessary first aid; further treatment is prescribed after a competent and high-quality examination, identifying the cause and source of the lesion.

Most injuries occur in the home or at work due to negligence. For prevention, it is necessary to follow basic safety rules.

If injuries occur, you cannot rely on your own feelings, because the situation can be much worse. You should consult a specialist to prevent serious consequences.

The human eye is a very sensitive and vulnerable organ, which, due to its physiological structure, is susceptible to external mechanical influences. Any eye injuries are dangerous: some significantly impair a person’s vision, while others can lead to lifelong disability.

Statistics show that men are more likely to suffer severe injuries to the ocular apparatus ( 90% of cases). Industrial work is also dangerous, but safety glasses can reduce the risk of injury by up to 10%.

Blunt injuries to the ocular apparatus

If the eye is damaged by a blunt object, the condition is accompanied by hematomas (retrobulbar or eyelid lesions) and profuse hemorrhage. With iris contusion, damage to the pupil and its unnatural dilation are observed up to 1 cm. Sensitivity to light is absent or mild.

The patient notes a sharp drop in visual acuity. A concomitant symptom is a violation of physiological accommodation (the ability of the organ of vision to adapt to darkness or bright light). If the blow was strong enough, there is a risk of blood mass accumulating in the front of the eye (hyphema), tearing off the iris layer.

If during work a person did not have eye protection from mechanical damage, then degenerative changes may affect the lens of the eye. Cloudiness of this part develops. If the lens capsule remains intact, then another pathology occurs - subcapsular cataract.

As a result of injury to the structure of the ligaments that hold the lens, subluxation may develop, which will inevitably cause lens astigmatism and disruption of accommodative functions. In some cases, the replaced lens prevents the normal outflow of fluid from the anterior cavity of the eye. On this basis, phacotopic (secondary) glaucoma develops.

In medical practice, there are frequent cases in which contusions of the organs of vision cause rupture of the sclera of the eye. This condition is also characterized by swelling of the eyelids, hypotony of the eyeball, exophthalmos, and conjunctivitis.

Damage to the eyeball

Non-penetrating wounds do not cause perforation of important membranes of the eye. But such mechanical injuries damage the outer epithelium of the eyeball and create a favorable environment for secondary infections - traumatic type keratitis, corneal erosion. The pathological condition is characterized by profuse lacrimation and fear of bright light.

Symptoms of penetrating mechanical damage are:

• an open wound through which prolapse of the vitreous body or iris is visible;
• hole in the iris;
• the presence of a foreign particle or object inside the eyeball;
• hypotension;
• loss of lens transparency;
• hemophthalmos;
• change in the natural shape and size of the pupil;
• decreased visual abilities.

Penetrating injuries are dangerous not only for their symptoms, but also for the complications that often develop in patients.

The consequence may be uveitis, iridocyclitis, endophthalmitis, complications of intracranial localization.

Orbital injuries

Damage of this nature is usually accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the tendon of the oblique muscle of the eye, which provokes diplopia and strabismus. A strong blow to the orbital area can cause a fracture of its walls and the displacement of sharp fragments, which will lead to a decrease or increase in the orbital cavity. Patients with such injuries experience an unnatural protrusion (exophthalmos) or retraction of the eyeball (endophthalmos).

Protecting the eyes from environmental factors is extremely important, since, for example, orbital injuries very often result in sudden blindness that cannot be treated. This occurs as a result of severe hemorrhages into the cavity of the eyeball, ruptures of nerve communications and structural membranes of the eye, and crushing of the eyeball.

Diagnostics

To establish the severity of mechanical damage to the ocular apparatus, you should contact a specialist - ophthalmologist. He will begin diagnosing the problem by collecting complaints and studying the clinical picture. Next, the patient will be prescribed all types of visual examinations.

In case of mechanical damage to the eyeball, it is necessary to carry out radiography of the eye orbit of the survey type, which is usually performed in two projections. This analysis will confirm or exclude bone damage and the introduction of foreign objects.

Among the mandatory research methods are examination of the structure of the eye through biomicroscopy, diaphanoscopy, and ophthalmoscopy. It is also necessary to measure the patient's intraocular pressure. If the injury is accompanied by protrusion of the eye, then the extent of the damage will be revealed by exophthalmometry. For various visual impairments after mechanical damage, it is recommended to examine the degree of accommodation, refraction and convergence of the injured eye. The consequences of damage to the stratum corneum can be studied using a fluorescein installation test.

To study post-traumatic changes in retinal tissue, the fluorescein angiography method is used.

The study of structural changes in the retina (localization and degree of detachment) is carried out using ultrasound of the orbits of the eye. Ultrasound biometric tests will allow us to identify and evaluate the consequences of a concussion.

After specialized instrumental diagnostics, the patient will be referred for consultation neurosurgeon, neurologist and ENT doctor. As additional studies, computed tomography and x-ray analysis of the head are prescribed.

First aid for eye injuries

In case of eye injuries of various types, the victim must immediately be provided with high-quality and correct pre-medical care. It is as follows:

1. If the injury received by a person is of a cut nature, then you should cover the eyeball and eyelid as quickly as possible with a sterile (or clean) cloth, securing it with a bandage. It is recommended to perform the same manipulations with the undamaged eye to exclude the possibility of their synchronous movement. The injured organ of vision should be immediately shown to a specialist.
2. A blow to the eyeball also requires emergency care. You can use the same fabric bandage, but first moisten it in cold water. If there is no water nearby, apply a cooled object to the bandage.
3. If during work a person did not use glasses to protect his eyes, and any foreign body got on the mucous membranes or the eyeball, then there is no need to try to remove it yourself (especially if there is a possibility of it being introduced into the body of the eyeball). All that can be done before a medical examination is to cover the eye with a scarf. If a foreign object is visually distinguishable and moves freely along the mucous membrane, then it is better to remove it with a homemade swab made of clean fabric. A foreign body under the upper eyelid can only be removed with the help of an “assistant”. If these steps do not produce results, you should consult a doctor.
4. Penetrating damage to the eyeball is the most dangerous. Therefore, the most important task is to stop bleeding or reduce blood loss. If the victim has a knife or other penetrating object in the eye, it is strictly forbidden to remove it until medical help arrives. It is only allowed to press the cloth to the injured eye, and cover the other with your hand or handkerchief. Such manipulations may not stop the bleeding, but they will definitely reduce blood loss.

Treatment

As practice shows, each individual case of injury to the organ of vision requires an individual approach and treatment. If the injuries caused by trauma affected only the eyelids (cut of the epidermis), then medical treatment of the wounds, their partial excision (if necessary) and the application of surgical sutures are performed.

Elimination of superficial damage to the organs of vision (eye cut) is performed through conservative therapy. Preparations for treatment - ointments for placing behind the eyelids, antibacterial drops and antiseptics. If a foreign body has managed to penetrate the mucous membranes of the eyes, then it is necessary to carry out a procedure of jet washing of the conjunctival cavity with subsequent removal of the fragment.

Treatment of a contusion of the eyeball involves providing complete rest to the victim. During the treatment period, Atropine and Pilocarpine are instilled, and eye pressure is monitored.

The affected eye is covered with a sterile binocular bandage. To resolve the ocular hematoma, the patient is prescribed antibiotic therapy and subconjunctival administration of the drug Dionin.

In some cases, the only treatment option is surgery. Doctors suture the sclera, perform vitrectomy, removal of the deformed lens and implantation of an artificial one, and laser coagulation.

Prevention

In order to prevent possible injuries to the eye apparatus ophthalmologists It is recommended to use glasses at work and at home during hazardous work to protect the eyes from mechanical damage.