The optic nerve exits the back of the eye and travels to the occipital lobe of the brain. This part of the brain is responsible for interpreting the visual messages that enter the eye and travel through the optic nerve. If the optic nerve of the eye is damaged, the consequences are often devastating, including permanent vision loss.
It’s important to speak with a personal injury attorney about your case if you have an eye injury from an accident or assault. Dr. Greg Vigna, eye injury lawyer, works directly with leading eye specialists in the United States to determine the severity of damage to the optic nerve and associated eye structures, and identify the best treatments to help you. As a board certified rehabilitation physician, Dr. Vigna knows which immediate and long-term interventions are needed so you can maintain the highest possible quality of life after loss of vision.
The Optic Nerve
Each eye has an optic nerve which connects to the brain. Vision isn’t possible if the optic nerves do not function correctly, even if the physical structure of the eyes is completely normal.
The optic nerve can be damaged in a number of ways during trauma. Broken bones around the eye can press on or cut into the optic nerve. Bleeding and swelling around the optic nerve can cause the nerve fibers to die. The nerve may also be severed by a foreign object, such as flying debris that enters the eye.
There are at least two specialists who need to be consulted when the optic nerve has been damaged: an ophthalmic-plastic surgeon and a neuro-ophthalmologist. These doctors reconstruct the eye and try to repair damage to important nerves that control eye movement and are responsible for sight. Being treated by a specialist immediately after the injury is extremely important; the sooner treatment begins, the more likely it is that vision can be saved.
Long Term Needs
Losing one’s sight has devastating effects. It may no longer be possible to do the same work. Every aspect of life will need to re-learned, from making food to managing finances. As a rehabilitation physician and patient advocate Dr. Vigna, eye injury lawyer, has worked with many individuals suffering from serious eye and optic nerve damage. He consults with top eye specialists and rehabilitation facilities in the country so that your legal case includes the most advanced therapies possible, and so that your lifelong needs are taken care of. The Dr. Greg Vigna law office is available to provide an evaluation of your case and the severity of your eye injuries. We’re here to help.