Eye injuries may seem rare, but are one of the leading causes of vision loss, often resulting from a sport or physical activity. Each year, more than 40,000 sports-related eye injuries are reported, many of which could have easily been prevented with protective eyewear. Three common types of eye injuries are related to poor vision during sports-related activities. These include blunt injuries, corneal abrasions, and penetrating injuries.
- A blunt injury occurs when the front of the eye is hit or compressed by impact of an object like a tennis ball, racquet, fist or elbow. This can result in a black eye or hyphema (bleeding in the front of the eye) due to damage on the eyelid, conjunctiva, sclera, cornea, iris or lens. In more serious cases, a blunt injury can sometimes break the bones surrounding the eye or damage an important structure leading up to vision loss.
- Corneal abrasion refers to scratches or scrapes on the cornea of the eye (clear, round dome covering the iris and pupil). Patients often experience blurred vision or swelling of the cornea temporarily, but this injury heals with time. A corneal abrasion is often caused by a finger to the eye or walking into a tree branch or another item that may be in way of your eye.
- The third type of eye trauma that could result from a sports-related activity is a penetrating injury, which occurs when a sharp or pointed object goes into the eye. This type of injury is considered serious and should be treated by a doctor immediately, as it could bring severe damage to the eye. In some cases, a penetrating injury happens when pieces of broken eyeglasses enter the eye.
If you lead an active lifestyle and play sports, professionally or casually, LASIK or other vision correction treatments may be an option for you. Find out if you’re a candidate by completing a self-evaluation or our doctors for a free consultation.
Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.
