Car Accidents & Eye Injuries

How Car Accidents and Eye Injuries Are Connected: Your Laguna Hills Eye Doctor Explains

Car accidents are one major reason why people make appointments to see their local Laguna Hills eye doctor. Although many do not realize it, car accidents can easily cause injuries in and around the brain, and brain injuries may be directly connected to ocular injuries too. At the Retina Associates of Orange County, many patients have come to our office with eye injuries related to traumatic brain injuries, or other traumas caused by car accidents.

We believe that it is important for patients to feel comfortable with their Laguna Hills eye doctor when they come to the Retina Associates of Orange County. While an experienced Laguna Hills eye doctor will acknowledge that every person’s case is unique, patients should feel comfortable in knowing that certain eye injuries may be common and treatable.

When an individual is involved in a car accident — even a minor one — it is possible to sustain injuries to the head, neck, and brain. These injuries may require extensive and continued treatment from an eye doctor Laguna Hills can trust. If your accident was the result of someone else’s negligence, a car accident lawyer may suggest you seek compensation to help with the cost of your necessary treatment.

Whiplash is a common injury resulting from car accidents whereby the neck is jolted suddenly and extends or turns in an unnatural way. It’s possible for this type of sudden movement to cause an eye injury without having any effect on the brain.

If the individual suffers a blunt force to the head or neck, such as coming in contact with an airbag as it deploys, the risk of suffering a brain and/or eye injury may increase. Although brain injuries do not necessarily lead to ocular injuries, it is possible for an accident to cause both.

Three common types of eye injuries that an experienced eye doctor in Laguna Hills may see as a result from car accidents are:

1. Retinal tears and detachment: The retina may become detached from the eye when it loses its “connection” with the vitreous, a clear gel in the middle section of the eye. A strong enough force can cause the vitreous to pull away from the retina and tear it; in some cases, it can pull the retina off of the eye.
2. Vitreous hemorrhage: The vitreous is an essential part of the eye; light passes through the vitreous and hits the retina, and the vitreous must be clear so that images are processed correctly. A severe car accident may cause blood vessels in the eye to rupture and bleed into the vitreous.
3. Damage to the optic nerve: Patients who have experienced brain damage may be more likely to experience optic nerve damage as well. An injury affecting the head could potentially create a great deal of swelling in and around the brain, which puts pressure onto a part of each eye called the optic nerve. When one or both optic nerves is under too much pressure, the nerves can be damaged and potentially lead to loss of vision.

Call Today For an Appointment With a Laguna Hills Eye Doctor

If you have been involved in a car accident and you believe you may be suffering from an eye injury, contact the Retina Associates of Orange County today. Our team of eye doctors and retina specialists welcomes inquiries from prospective clients, and we’re happy to sit down with new patients and discuss possible treatment options for accident-related injuries. To request an appointment at our Laguna Hills office, call us today at (949) 777-5011.

At the Retina Associates of Orange County, we’re proud that our patients always know they can call us when they need a Laguna Hills eye doctor they can trust.