Glaucoma Following a Traumatic Accident
Problems of the eyes are serious. One example is the development of traumatic glaucoma, which can occur following a severe accident. In general, glaucoma is used to describe a condition of increased pressure behind the eye. This pressure is dangerous because as it builds, damage can take place within the retina of the eye, the blood vessels, and even the globe. In traumatic glaucoma, a blow to the head creates a change in the pressure, causing it to build. Some of the ways that people might suffer a blow to the head or face include:
- Involvement in a motor vehicle accident that could consist of a blunt or a penetrating injury
- Falling from a bicycle or motorcycle
- A slip and fall injury on a wet floor or an icy sidewalk
- A contact injury that occurs while playing sports
- Physical assault
Traumatic glaucoma is a medical emergency. If it is not treated quickly, people could notice that their vision is starting to fade. Unfortunately, visual loss due to glaucoma could be permanent.
Symptoms of Traumatic Glaucoma
Traumatic glaucoma can present in different ways depending on the severity of the injury. Some of the symptoms of traumatic glaucoma include:
- Severe pain behind one or both eyes
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Photophobia which is the fear of bright lights
- Blurry or double vision
- Seeing halos around lights and other shiny objects
- Redness of the blood vessels in the eyes
Anyone who presents with these symptoms after an auto accident should seek emergency medical care. Traumatic glaucoma can progress to permanent blindness quickly if not addressed by a trained medical professional.
What is the Treatment of Traumatic Glaucoma?
If someone visits the emergency room with signs and symptoms of glaucoma, the physician is going to reach out to an ophthalmologist who specializes in eye trauma. First, the intraocular pressure will be measured. In glaucoma, this will be elevated. To treat glaucoma, some of the options include:
- The head of the bed will be raised to try and reduce intraocular pressure.
- Beta-blockers might be prescribed to try and lower blood pressure.
- Topical eye drops might also be used to try and lower the pressure behind the eyes.
- In particularly severe or rapidly progressing cases, surgery might be used to try and release the pressure.
The prognosis for someone who has suffered traumatic glaucoma will depend on how quickly it was diagnosed and the severity of the pressure behind the eyes.
Watch YouTube Video: What is Glaucoma? How Can Glaucoma Be Treated? This video from Eye Doctor Hawaii provides an overview of glaucoma and its treatment.
Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer
Following a severe accident that involves a blow to the head, individuals might have suffered damage to their eyes. Whether it is blunt or penetrating trauma, glaucoma might develop. People depend on their vision for work, school, and everyday life. Because of this, those who have complications should meet with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. Some of the resources that an injury attorney could help with include:
- Serving as a trained, objective professional who can help families make decisions during a difficult time.
- Assisting families in pursuing damages that could be related to the accident, visual loss, and any other complications.
- Shifting a case to the courts when necessary.
Lastly, families should be aware that help is always available. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer in Sacrament to learn more. Your family could be deserving of a financial award.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. Glaucoma is a medical emergency and can lead to permanent blindness if not treated quickly. If your family member has suffered optical damage in a motor vehicle accident, please give me a call at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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