Eye Trauma
Eye trauma refers to any injury to the eye. It is a regular event in
children and a common cause of loss of vision. The National Society to
Prevent Blindness states that about one-third of eye loss in children
younger than the age of 10 is from trauma to the eye. Trauma from sports
is very common. Some of the more recurrent injuries occur during the
following activities:
- hockey
- archery
- darts
- BB guns
- bicycling
- sports that involve rackets
- baseball
- boxing
- basketball
Other common causes of trauma to the eye include the following:
- chemicals
- toys
- fingernails
Any trauma to the eye of your child should be considered a medical
emergency, and immediate medical care is necessary. Often, a younger child
with an injury to the eye may need to be examined in the operating room
under general anesthesia. Ophthalmologists (physicians who specialize in
comprehensive eye care) are usually involved in the care of children with
eye trauma.
There are many different types of eye trauma that require clinical care
by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory
below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview.
If you cannot find the information in which you are interested, please
visit the Common Childhood Injuries and Poisonings
Online Resources page in this Web site for an Internet/World Wide Web
address that may contain additional information on that topic.
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