Eye Injuries: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Do you have an object in your eye? Note: If the object hit your eye at a high speed or is a piece of metal, do not try to remove it.

See significance of an object in the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Did an object hit the eye at high speed? Note: There is a high risk of serious injury to your eye. Even if symptoms appear minor, your eye should be checked by a doctor.

Yes

Are you having trouble seeing things clearly?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have a piece of metal on the surface of your eye?

Yes

Do you have mild blurred vision that does not clear by blinking your eye?

Yes

Is your eye still painful or scratchy after removing an object and using home treatment for 12 hours or longer? Note: Put on dark glasses. Do not bandage or put pressure on the eye. Do not use any nonprescription eyedrops in the eye.

Yes

Are you unable to remove an object from the surface of the eye with home treatment measures?

Yes

Have you had pain in or around the eye, tearing, and swelling for longer than 30 minutes?

Yes

Do you have a feeling that something is in your eye (foreign body sensation) or a feeling of sand in your eye when you blink?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had any pain, redness, swelling, sensitivity to light, or a change in vision for 24 hours or longer after removing an object from your eye?

Note:

If you are not 100% better 24 hours after an object has been removed from your eye, see your doctor.

Yes

Have you been unable to remove a contact lens for 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	December 06, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Christopher J. Rudnisky, MD, FRCSC - Ophthalmology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer