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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.

Step One

Step Two

Step Three

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.


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Have you been hit in the eye?


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Do you have a cut on or around your eye?


	Yes

Do you think an eye injury may have been caused by abuse?


	Yes

Do you think you have an infection after an eye injury?


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Are you having trouble seeing things clearly?


	Yes

Do you have a piece of metal on the surface of your eye?


	Yes

Do you have mild blurred vision that does not clear by blinking your eye?


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Are you unable to remove an object from the surface of the eye with home treatment measures?


	Yes

Have you had pain in or around the eye, tearing, and swelling for longer than 30 minutes?


	Yes

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?


	Yes

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.


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Do you think something punctured your eye?


	Yes

Does your eye not move normally in all directions?


	Yes

Do you have severe pain?


	Yes

Do you have double or blurred vision that does not clear with blinking?


	Yes

Do you think the bones around your eye socket are broken?


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Can you see blood over the colored part (iris) of the eye when the injured person raises his or her head?


	Yes

Do you have a change in the size or shape of your pupil?


	Yes

Have you suddenly developed floaters?


	Yes

Have you suddenly developed flashes of lights?


	Yes

Do you have a headache, nausea, or vomiting?


	Yes

Has your eye moved downward in its socket?


	Yes

Do you have mild to moderate pain in the eyeball that has not improved within 1 to 2 hours?


	Yes

Do you have blood in the eye that covers more than one-quarter of the white part (sclera) of the eye?


	Yes

Are your eyes sensitive to light (photophobia)?


	Yes

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?


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Do you have severe pain?


	Yes

Do you have decreased vision?


	Yes

Do you have blisters on your eyelid?


	Yes

Do you have moderate pain, but your vision is normal?


	Yes

Do you have blurred vision that does not get better when you blink your eye?


	Yes

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.


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Do you have a cut on your eyelid and you think you may have damaged your eye?


	Yes

Do you have many cuts on your eyelid or around your eye?


	Yes

Do you have blood over the colored part (iris) of your eye?


	Yes

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.


	Yes

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.


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?


	Yes

Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?


	Yes

Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots?

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.


	Yes

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.


	Yes

Do you have diabetes?


	Yes

Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system?


	Yes

Do you have pain in your eye?


	Yes

Do you feel like you have something in your eye (foreign body sensation)?


	Yes

Are your eyes very sensitive to light (photophobia)?


	Yes

Do you have a yellow, green, bloody, or watery discharge from your eye?


	Yes

Is redness of your eye or eyelids getting worse?


	Yes

Do you have a gray or white sore on your eye?


	Yes

Do you know or think you have a fever?


	Yes

Do you have blurred or decreased vision?


	Yes

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.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

If you have any of the following symptoms, evaluate those symptoms first.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: December 06, 2007

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.