Eye injuries are a significant public health concern, and it's estimated that about 2.5 million eye injuries occur in the United States each year. Eye injuries can happen at any age, but they are more common in children and young adults.
Eye trauma can range from a minor bump or bruise to a more serious injury. It is important to understand the different types of eye trauma and when to seek medical attention.

Different types of eye trauma

Superficial bruises: These are common and can occur without any specific cause or trauma. They appear as blood on the white part of the eye and are not usually painful. They will take time to heal and the body will reabsorb it. It is still good to have them looked at by our eye doctor.

Full-on trauma: If you have had a significant injury, such as getting hit in the eye with a baseball, it is important to have it looked at by our eye doctor. This type of injury can cause internal damage and a dilated eye exam is required to take a look inside the eye.

If you suffer a blow to your eye, what should you do?

If you suffer a blow to your eye, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Depending on the degree of the injury, there are different steps you should take:

• If you have a lot of bruising and painful swelling around the eye, it is an emergency and you should go to the emergency room. They will check both the eye and the bone structures in the orbit.
• When you get hit in the eye, you may not see a change in your vision right away. But even a small injury can affect your vision. That's why it's important to go see our eye doctor after an eye injury, even if it seems minor. Our eye doctor will check your eye to make sure everything is okay, and will also check your eye pressure and vision. It's best to go see an eye doctor as soon as you can, so any problems can be caught early.

If you experience any changes in your vision after a blow to your eye, it is important to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor as soon as possible. If you don’t already have a trusted optometrist or live too far from our office in Bellflower, you might begin your search online by entering “eye doctor near me” or “emergency eye exam near me”.

Why should you see an eye doctor if you suffer a blow to your eye?

It is important to visit our eye doctor if you suffer a blow to your eye because they will be able to assess the extent of the injury and provide appropriate treatment. Our eye doctor can check for any internal damage, surface injuries, and evaluate the pressure inside the eye. They may also perform a dilated eye exam to check for any internal injuries or bleeding. They also can check for any changes in vision which could be a symptom of a more serious injury. Additionally, they can also provide guidance on how to properly care for your eye during the healing process and can also monitor for any possible complications. Even if the blow to the eye seems minor, it is still important to have it checked out by our eye doctor, as some injuries may not be immediately obvious but can cause long-term damage if not treated properly.