Eye injuries can occur in many different ways and vary significantly in severity. In a road traffic accident, at work or during everyday activities, damage to the eye can affect vision and comfort in your daily life.

There is no single official system that groups eye injuries. However, to make this topic easier to understand, we have broken the most common types of eye injuries into four broad groups. Each type of injury affects the eye in a different way, and may require different forms of medical treatment.

In this guide, our personal injury solicitors explain the four main types of eye injuries, how they happen, and when you may be able to make a claim under the law in England and Wales.

The Four Main Types of Eye Injuries

Eye injuries can affect different parts of the eye and surrounding tissues. The symptoms, level of damage and recovery time will depend on how the injury occurred and the type of force involved.

Our outline of the broad categories presented below can help you in recognising the severity, knowing when to seek urgent medical treatment, and understanding when you may have grounds to make an eye injury claim.

Blunt Force Injuries

Blunt force injuries are one of the most common types of eye injuries. They occur when an object strikes the eye or surrounding tissues without breaking through the eye wall. This is often referred to as a closed globe injury.

Causes

Blunt force injuries can happen in many situations. Common causes include a road traffic accident, a sports injury, or contact with objects or other vehicles. These incidents can occur anywhere, and the level of force involved will influence the severity of the injury.

Effects

The effects of blunt force trauma vary. Some eye injuries may involve visible bruising around the eye, often referred to as a black eye. However, the impact can also affect structures inside the eye.

More serious eye trauma may include internal bleeding, a blowout fracture of the eye socket, or damage that affects vision. In some cases, blunt force trauma can lead to permanent vision loss. Any injured eye should be assessed by a medical professional to understand the full extent of the injury.

Eye Burns

Eye burns can happen after chemical exposure, radiation exposure or contact with extreme heat. In some cases, even minor thermal injuries can cause significant pain and require urgent treatment.

Causes

Chemical burns are often linked to industrial chemicals, cleaning products and other hazardous substances. Radiation exposure may happen during welding or from other intense exposure to ultraviolet light. Eye burns can also be caused by steam, flames or hot liquids.

These causes of eye injuries can arise in many different settings, including at work, on the road or during leisure activities. Where there is a risk of exposure, people should wear eye protection and protective eyewear.

Effects

The effects will depend on the substance or heat involved and how quickly the eye is treated. Some eye injuries cause redness, severe eye pain, light sensitivity and vision changes. More serious burns can damage the surface of the eye and surrounding tissues, increasing the risk of permanent damage or vision loss.

Because eye burns are a medical emergency, it is important to seek care immediately. Prompt medical treatment can protect the injured eye and reduce the risk of longer-term complications.

Foreign Body Injuries

Foreign body injuries are a common form of eye trauma. They happen when foreign bodies or a foreign object enter the eye and irritate or damage the surface. In some cases, the object stays loose in the eye. In others, it becomes embedded and causes more serious injury.

Causes

Common causes of eye injuries of this kind include dust, sand, metal fragments and flying debris. They are often linked to power tools, cutting equipment, grinding and other tasks where small particles can travel at high speed. These incidents can also happen outdoors, on building sites or during road use.

Where there is a recognised risk, people should wear eye protection. Suitable protective eyewear will reduce the risk of foreign body injuries.

Effects

Foreign bodies can cause pain, watering, redness and constant blinking. A foreign object may become trapped under the upper eyelid and scratch the surface of the eye. This can lead to eye scratches, which are also known as corneal abrasions.

Some eye injuries also cause a subconjunctival haemorrhage, which appears as a bright red area on the white of the eye. If the foreign object has entered the eye at speed, there may be deeper eye trauma and a greater risk of vision loss. An eye examination is the only reliable way to assess the full extent of the injury and identify whether urgent treatment is needed.

Penetrating Injuries

Penetrating injuries are among the most serious types of eye injuries. They happen when a sharp object or high-speed projectile passes through the eye wall. In some cases, this may be described as obvious eye trauma because the damage is visible straight away. A punctured eyeball is a medical emergency and needs immediate medical treatment.

Causes of eye injuries

These eye injuries are often caused by a sharp object such as a piece of glass or metal, a tool or another object flying at speed. Penetrating objects may also be linked to faulty equipment, power tools, road traffic accidents or incidents involving broken materials.

Effects of penetrating injuries

Penetrating injuries can cause severe eye pain, vision changes, internal damage and a high risk of infection. More serious cases involve deep cuts, damage to surrounding tissues and permanent vision loss. Where the force is particularly severe, there may also be other injuries to the face or eye socket.

Because of the risk of permanent damage, this type of eye trauma requires urgent assessment. People should never try to remove a sharp object from the eye themselves.