[Basic principles of ophthalmological traumatology: initial care, differentiated treatment, operative treatment]

The spectrum of traumatic injuries of the eye is broad and often very complex (e.g. burns, hematoma, hemorrhage, retinal detachment, tears, rupture etc.). For colleagues specializing in other disciplines the initial evaluation of an ophthalmic injury can be difficult but in most instances the anamnesis of the events can give indications of the possible injury type. Using basic examination techniques the initial examination even by a non-ophthalmologist (for example in the emergency room) can result in a good overview of the patients' eye injury without extensive equipment. Further planning of the interdisciplinary treatment is guided by the results of the initial examination. In particular for chemical burns it is of utmost importance to undertake the most intensive and lengthy rinsing of the eye possible in order to avoid further irreversible damage.