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Eye Injuries - Check Your Symptoms
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
See significance of an object in the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
See significance of being hit in the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
See significance of an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure to the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
See significance of a cut to the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
See significance of abuse and an eye injury if you need information to help you answer the question below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
See significance of signs of infection if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.
- A flash burn or chemical burn to your eye: Go to the topic Burns to the Eye.
- An object in your eye: Go to the topic Objects in the Eye.
Do you have an object in your eye? Note: If the object hit your eye at a high speed or is a piece of metal, do not try to remove it.
Have you been hit in the eye?
Have you had eye problems after an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure? Note: You may not have any symptoms for 6 to 8 hours after exposure to ultraviolet light.
Do you have a cut on or around your eye?
Do you think an eye injury may have been caused by abuse?
Do you think you have an infection after an eye injury?
Did an object hit the eye at high speed? Note: There is a high risk of serious injury to your eye. Even if symptoms appear minor, your eye should be checked by a doctor.
Are you having trouble seeing things clearly?
Do you have a piece of metal on the surface of your eye?
Do you have mild blurred vision that does not clear by blinking your eye?
Is your eye still painful or scratchy after removing an object and using home treatment for 12 hours or longer? Note: Put on dark glasses. Do not bandage or put pressure on the eye. Do not use any nonprescription eyedrops in the eye.
Are you unable to remove an object from the surface of the eye with home treatment measures?
Have you had pain in or around the eye, tearing, and swelling for longer than 30 minutes?
Do you have a feeling that something is in your eye (foreign body sensation) or a feeling of sand in your eye when you blink?
Have you had any pain, redness, swelling, sensitivity to light, or a change in vision for 24 hours or longer after removing an object from your eye?Note: If you are not 100% better 24 hours after an object has been removed from your eye, see your doctor.
Have you been unable to remove a contact lens for 24 hours?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Do you think something punctured your eye?
Does your eye not move normally in all directions?
Do you have severe pain?
Do you have double or blurred vision that does not clear with blinking?
Do you think the bones around your eye socket are broken?
Do you have blood in your eye that is:Over the colored part (iris) of the eye?Increasing after the initial injury?Causing swelling and pain?Note: If you have blood in your eye, do not use any aspirin products for your symptoms because aspirin products may cause more bleeding in your eye.
Can you see blood over the colored part (iris) of the eye when the injured person raises his or her head?
Do you have a change in the size or shape of your pupil?
Have you suddenly developed floaters?
Have you suddenly developed flashes of lights?
Do you have a headache, nausea, or vomiting?
Has your eye moved downward in its socket?
Do you have mild to moderate pain in the eyeball that has not improved within 1 to 2 hours?
Do you have blood in the eye that covers more than one-quarter of the white part (sclera) of the eye?
Are your eyes sensitive to light (photophobia)?
Have you had blood in less than one-quarter of the white of the eye longer than 2 or 3 days, but you do not have pain or a change in your vision?
Have you had mild to moderate pain in the area around the eye (not the eyeball) that is not getting better after 12 hours of home treatment?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Do you have severe pain?
Do you have decreased vision?
Do you have blisters on your eyelid?
Do you have moderate pain, but your vision is normal?
Do you have blurred vision that does not get better when you blink your eye?
Do you have mild pain that is not getting better after using home treatment for 12 hours or longer?Note: If pain is not 100% better after 24 hours of home treatment, see your doctor.
Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 24 hours of home treatment?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Do you have a cut on your eyelid and you think you may have damaged your eye?
Do you have many cuts on your eyelid or around your eye?
Do you have blood over the colored part (iris) of your eye?
Do you have a cut near your eye that might need stitches (sutures)? Stitches need to be done within 8 hours of the injury.Note: A small cut on the inner corner of the eyelid may damage tear ducts and should be checked by a doctor.
Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?Note: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.
Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?Note: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.
Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?
Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?
Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots (primary vaccination series)?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Do you think an eye injury may have been caused by abuse?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
Do you have diabetes?
Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?
Do you have pain in your eye?
Do you feel like you have something in your eye (foreign body sensation)?
Are your eyes very sensitive to light (photophobia)?
Do you have a yellow, green, bloody, or watery discharge from your eye?
Is redness of your eye or eyelids getting worse?
Do you have a gray or white sore on your eye?
Do you know or think you have a fever?
Do you have blurred or decreased vision?
Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 24 hours of home treatment?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.
- Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
- If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
- Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.
You do not need to answer any of the other questions.
You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.
- An appointment today is usually needed.
- Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.
Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.
You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.
- If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
- If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
- Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
- Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.
Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.
If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise