The ocular sequelae of blunt trauma

Blunt trauma can cause a wide range of ocular injuries. An immediate evaluation of the potential damage may be impossible because of vitreous hemorrhage or may be ill-advised because of hyphema or damage to other ocular or orbital structures. One must remember that potentially severe injuries can be harbored in the recesses of the angle or far periphery of the retina. In any case of blunt trauma, although one eye may have more obvious signs of injury, an extensive examination of the fellow eye must always be included because less severe trauma may have resulted in serious injuries that can go undetected. The types of injuries from blunt trauma that threaten vision--damage to the angle, lens, macula, and peripheral retina--must be noted and recorded because all have potential long-term visual consequences. Early treatment of these lesions, especially retinal tears and elevated intraocular pressure, can help prevent potentially severe loss of vision.