Eye trauma is an injury to your eye. Eye injuries can range from mild scratches on the surface to serious injuries to your eye’s structures.

Types of eye injuries include:

• Black eye: A black eye is a bruise around your eye. Your eyelid and surrounding tissues may temporarily swell, making it harder to see. A black eye may occur alone or with other eye trauma.
• Burn: Boiling water, chemicals, fumes and irritants can burn one or more layers of your eye.
• Corneal abrasion: This common eye trauma happens when something scratches your cornea (the front, clear layer of the eye).
• Orbital fracture: Trauma to your eye area can break one or more of your orbital bones (bones that make up your eye socket).
• Retinal detachment: Eye injuries and other conditions can cause your retina (thin layer in the back of your eye) to pull away from its blood supply.
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage: This injury is bleeding in your conjunctiva (vascular layer over the whites of your eyes). You might see a bright red spot of blood on your eye.

Eye injuries have many different causes. Anything that hits your eye or gets in your eye can cause an eye injury. Common causes include:

People of all ages experience eye injuries. However, you may have a higher risk of eye trauma if you:

Diagnosing eye trauma requires the expertise of an experienced medical team. At UC Davis Health, our specialists provide a comprehensive eye exam to determine the type and severity of the eye trauma.

Eye trauma often requires emergency care. Our Department of Emergency Medicine is equipped to diagnose and treat all types of eye injuries. We quickly assess your eyes for trauma and use proven methods to treat them.

If needed, we may perform advanced ophthalmic imaging tests to check for damage to your retina and other internal structures. We may also order imaging tests like an MRI or CT scan. These tests show the bones and other structures surrounding your eyes.

After you receive emergency care, we may refer you to the UC Davis Eye Center for further evaluation and ongoing care. Our team provides the right combination of immediate care to treat the injury and long-term care to preserve your vision.

As a leading academic hospital and Level I trauma center, you can be confident you’ll receive the highest quality care for eye trauma. Our specialists regularly care for all types of eye injuries and accidents, providing you with a better chance of healing.

You have access to every subspecialty needed, from retinal disorders care to ophthalmic plastic and orbital surgery. Our team has the knowledge and experience to deliver customized treatment. We promptly evaluate your case and choose the treatment that will provide you with the best outcome.

Many eye injuries are preventable. You can help prevent eye injuries by wearing proper eye protection during sports and in high-risk work environments. Always wear safety goggles when working with any tools or chemicals, including lawn mowers and household cleaners.