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Penetrating Ocular Trauma

What is Penetrating Ocular Trauma?

Injuries that penetrate the eye can cause severe vision loss. They are typically caused by a sharp or high-velocity object hitting the eye. These can include rocks, fists, baseballs/softballs, lumber, fishing weights, sticks, knives, scissors, nails and screwdrivers.


Common symptoms of a penetrating eye injury include:

  • Pain
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Sensation of something in the eye

Risk Factors

  • Occurs more frequently in men
  • Failure to wear protective eye equipment while performing high-risk activities such as sports and use of power tools
  • Substance abuse


If you receive a penetrating trauma to your eye, you should see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible. He or she will carefully conduct a comprehensive exam to assess the damage. Your physician may perform an additional diagnostic test like ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) to fully assess the injury and damage to the eye.


If an injury is severe, it may require one surgery to close the laceration and stabilize the eye and then an additional surgery 10 days to two weeks later to repair damage inside the eye, such as vitreous hemorrhage or retinal detachment. Sometimes it is possible to do both procedures at the same time. Prognosis for recovery of vision depends on the severity of the injury and any related infection within the eye.