Eye Injury

What You Should Know: Emergency Eye Care

February 20, 2022 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

An eye emergency constitutes an event that puts your eyesight at risk. Any such event requires immediate professional treatment to prevent permanent vision loss. Examples of eye emergencies include:

Loss of Vision: If you experience any form of vision loss, even if you are not experiencing pain, contact your eye doctor immediately. In fact, loss of vision is one of the most significant indicators of an eye emergency. Lack of pain in no way diminishes the seriousness of the situation.

Torn or Cut Eyelid: If you experience a cut or torn eyelid, apply gentle pressure with a clean, dry cloth until the bleeding subsides. Then rinse the area with water, cover with a clean bandage, apply a cold compress over the bandage to reduce pain and swelling, and seek medical help immediately.

Scratched Eye: If any direct damage occurs to your eyeball, DO NOT apply any pressure to stop the bleeding. Gently place a cold compress over the affected eye to reduce swelling and help control any bleeding and seek medical help immediately.

Protruding Eye: Any bulging of a single eye, especially in children, is a very serious sign and requires immediate professional attention. Contact your eye doctor immediately.

Foreign Object Under the Eyelid: First of all, DO NOT rub your eye if something becomes stuck under your eyelid. Try to wash it out with water. If that does not work, contact your eye doctor immediately.

Chemicals in the Eye: If any chemicals come into contact with your eye, immediately flush the eye with cool tap water. Turn your head to the side, with the affected eye facing down. Hold the eyelid open and allow the water to run over the eye. Do this for 15 minutes. After flushing the eye, seek immediate medical attention.

Foreign Object Embedded in the Eye: First and foremost, as hard as it may be to resist, DO NOT try to remove the object or apply pressure to the eye. Leave the object in place and bandage the eye. Then cover the healthy eye with a clean cloth or gauze and seek immediate medical attention.

There is a general theme when it comes to eye emergencies; if you experience an eye emergency, seek immediate medical attention and contact your eye doctor – ophthalmologist or optometrist – right away. If you are unable to reach your eye care physician, have a family member or friend drive you to the nearest emergency room. And remember the following advise.

•DO NOT rub your eye.

•DO NOT attempt to remove a foreign object that is in contact with the cornea or that is embedded in the eye.

•DO NOT use dry cotton or sharp objects on the eye.

•DO NOT contaminate a burn. Avoid breathing on the affected area.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about AAEC’s Emergency Eye Care Services, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

Sources:

Emergency Eye Care ClearVue.org

Retinal Detachment: Definition, Symptoms, and Treatment

December 1, 2018 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

A retinal detachment refers to a separation of the retina – the light-sensitive membrane in the back of the eye – from its supporting layers. This serious medical condition is typically caused by trauma, diabetes or an inflammatory disorder.

Symptoms of Retinal Detachment

• Flashes of light (Especially in peripheral vision)

• Blurred/blurry vision

• Floaters in the eye. Also referred to as shadows or spots

• Blindness in a portion of the visual field

The sudden and dramatic appearance of these symptoms is a strong indication that the retina is either tearing or detaching. If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor immediately. Any sudden change in your vision is a serious medical condition that requires prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Treatment of Retinal Detachment

Most cases of retinal detachment require one of the following surgeries.

• Freezing (cryopexy): The application of intense cold to the area with an ice probe to form a scar, which holds the retina in place.

• Laser Surgery (photocoagulation): This is used to seal the tears or holes in the retina.

• Pneumatic Retinopexy: The placing of a gas bubble in the eye to help the retina float back into place. Then a laser is used to fix the retina in place.

More extensive cases require more invasive procedures, including:

• Scleral Buckle: This is done to indent the wall of the eye, relieving the tugging of the vitreous on the retina.

• Vitrectomy: This is done to remove gel or scar tissue that may be pulling on the retina.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about your various treatment options, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

Led by Dr. Boles, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Retinal Detachment

Flashers and Floaters in the Eye: What are They and What do They Mean?

November 22, 2018 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

As we age, the eye’s gel-like vitreous begins to dissolve and liquefy, creating a watery center. Occasionally some un-dissolved vitreous particles will float around the now watery center, appearing as spots or what we refer to as floaters.

Floaters in the eye are a fairly common, harmless apparition that will generally fade away in time. Yet, while these floaters are typically common, they can be the first signs of a more serious medical condition, such as retinal detachment.

If you ever see a shower of floaters (spots) accompanied by flashes of light (photopsia), then you should seek immediate medical attention. The sudden and dramatic appearance of these symptoms could indicate that the retina is either tearing or detaching.

Retinal detachments and retinal tears are both emergency conditions that require immediate medical attention. An eye surgeon must reattach or repair the retina to prevent permanent vision loss from occurring.

So if you see floaters in your eye, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – at your earliest convenience. Any change in your sight is a serious medical condition that requires prompt attention. If these symptoms appear rapidly and include flashes of light, call your eye doctor right away.

If you have any questions about what you have just read, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sources:

Eye Floaters, Flashes and Spots

Eye Safety and Holiday Gifts: “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!”

November 26, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Each and every holiday season, more than 250,000 toy-related injuries are treated in emergency rooms, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of these, almost half involve the face, including the eyes, and most happen in children under the age of 15. Because of this, it is important to be mindful of the dangers some toys pose. Some popular children’s toys can cause serious eye injuries.

It reminds us of the popular holiday movie, A Christmas Story. In the movie, the main character, Ralphie, asks his mother for an “official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle,” to which Mrs. Parker responds, “No, you’ll shoot your eye out.”

Best of Christmas Story: “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

Despite his mother’s warnings, come Christmas morning, Ralphie finds an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle under the tree. And guess what happens? Well, we don’t want to spoil the movie for you…

Eye Safety and Holiday Gifts

This holiday season, it is better to be safe than sorry. Only purchase toys that are safe for your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. The good news that most eye injuries can be easily prevented by following these simple tips:

Avoid toys with sharp, protruding or projectile parts.
Always make sure children are properly supervised when playing with potentially hazardous toys.
Ensure protective eyewear is worn when there is any risk of eye injury. Of the 1 million people who suffer an eye injury every year in the United States, most could have been avoided with the use of protective eyewear.
Check labels for age recommendations before purchasing toys.
Keep toys that are made for older children away from younger children.

Happy Holidays from Anne Arundel Eye Center!

If you have any questions about Eye Safety and Holiday Gifts or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

Sports Eye Injuries

October 22, 2013 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

October is Eye Injury Prevention Month. As we have explained in recent weeks, the goal of this month is to spread awareness of the very real threat of eye injuries and the proper methods to prevent those injuries. This week we are going to address one specific segment of eye injuries: Sports Eye Injuries.

Sports Eye Injury Statistics

Sports are the leading cause of eye injuries.
Of the 1 million eye injuries that occur every year in the United States, 600,000 are sports related.
A sports-related eye injury occurs every 13 minutes that requires an emergency room visit.
Baseball and basketball are two of the most common sports to lead to eye injury. Hockey, boxing, and racquet sports round out the list.
85% of children do not wear protective eyewear while playing sports.
Sports eye injuries are one of the most common causes of childhood blindness.

Don’t let your child become a statistic; make sure they are properly protected. And, if an eye injury does occur, seek medical attention right away. Call your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist – immediately to schedule an eye exam. Or, if the injury is severe, visit the emergency room right away. Eye injuries are serious and require prompt medical attention.

Types of Sports Eye Injuries

Blunt Trauma: Responsible for the majority of sports eye injuries, blunt trauma occurs when an object, such as a ball, bat, puck, stick, or even another player, strikes the eye. Serious injury can result. The most common include: orbital blowout fracture, detached retina, ruptured globe, and traumatic optic neuropathy.
Corneal Abrasion: Corneal abrasion occurs when dirt or some other foreign object enters the eye and scratches the cornea, leading to tearing, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and the constant feeling of needing to rub the eye.
Penetrating Injuries: Typically caused by broken glass or fingernails, penetrating injuries are less common, but still possible.

If you have any questions about Sports Eye Injuries and Protective Eyewear, or if you wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Corinne Casey, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or visiting AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.