The eyes and vision can be damaged several ways from a traumatic accident. The visual symptoms of traumatic injury may take months to years after the accident to show up, so it’s important to be evaluated by a specialist early who can identify risk factors and early signs of complication. Vision is affected through changes to the physical structure of the eye, or from damage to the brain during a head injury. Research shows us that even a concussion with only brief loss of consciousness can affect how the brain controls the eyes years after the initial accident.

Physical Eye Trauma

Secondary open angle glaucoma can cause progressive damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye. This happens without any symptoms until suddenly an injury victim notices they have lost some of their peripheral vision.

Cellular debris from damaged eye tissue clogs the drainage system of the eye, which is known as the trabecular meshwork. This slows the rate at which liquid from the eye can drain. As the excess liquid builds up, it increases the pressure inside the eye. This increased pressure pushes against blood vessels at the back of the eye reducing the amount of blood reaching the optic nerve. As oxygen and nutrients stop flowing to the nerve, the outer fringes of nerve cells begin to die.

Untreated, this cellular death continues until the nerve can no longer respond to stimuli, resulting in permanent blindness.

Brain Trauma

Microscopic tears to nerve cells in the brain can change the way information flows through the brain. When signals have to find new routes, this slows the overall response time of the brain. For most activities, the delay is so minuscule it isn’t noticed, but for the eyes, which are constantly adjusting to small environmental changes, the delay has an effect on how that individual reacts and responds to their environment.

Research demonstrates that this delay is experienced as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, shortened attention span and difficulty reading.

Long Term Issues

Many patients focus on the immediate post trauma recovery period and don’t realize that complications may not develop until months or even years later. This is why it’s important to speak with specialists who understand your injuries, and the screening tests and follow up you will need to prevent blindness. As a physician certified Lifecare planner and injury attorney, Dr. Greg Vigna can evaluate your legal case when there is traumatic eye injury, and help you get the treatments you need.

Image courtesy of CDC/ Eric Grafman