According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, eye injury is the second leading cause of visual impairment behind cataracts. Over 11% of all annual eye injuries occur on American roads. About 5% of such cases are caused by airbag injury (although it should be noted that eye injuries are usually more severe in vehicles in which an airbag did not deploy). Over 42% of those who suffered trauma to the eye were not wearing a seat belt.
One of the common forms of eye trauma that occurs in a motor vehicle accident, aside from corneal abrasions, is a tear duct injury. The tear duct, responsible for the drainage of tears (among other functions), is an essential part of the eye. A torn tear duct can be very painful and may require surgery, and can be accompanied by other facial injuries that may be life-threatening.
Although most patients with an injured eye will make a full recovery, it is important to realize the importance of safety devices while traveling in a vehicle. If you or a loved one has suffered trauma to the tear duct due to a motor vehicle crash that was someone elses fault, you may be eligible for compensation.
Contact a leading Phoenix personal injury lawyer from Phillips Law today enter your details into the Free Case Review form to your right to be called by our office. Its always free and 100% confidential.
Causes of Tear Duct Injury
Although the use of a seatbelt and airbag can usually lessen the severity of a torn tear duct, this type of injury can still occur when involved in an auto accident. The potential for flying debris to affect the eyes can often cause facial injuries.
Some auto-related causes of tear duct trauma include:
In the event of an accident, hazardous materials may be carried by other vehicles involved in the accident, posing further threat to the vision and well-being of the injured individual.
If you or a loved one was hurt and is experiencing vision problems due to another drivers negligence, you are encouraged to contact a knowledgeable attorney after seeking treatment.
Symptoms of Eye Injury
While the pain associated with an eye injury is usually a tell-tale sign, some other symptoms may be present when a tear duct has suffered trauma.
Symptoms include:
- Excess tear production
- Recurring infection
- Inflammation
- Painful swelling in inner corner of eye
- Excess discharge
- Blurred vision
- Intensified symptoms in presence of sunlight, wind or cold temperatures
These symptoms may subside or intensify, depending on the severity of the injury and whether an infection is present. Infection can lead to loss of vision. If you are suffering any of these symptoms, an ophthalmologist can help diagnose and treat the issue you are experiencing and prevent further damage.
Tear Duct Injury Treatment
Eye injury should be treated as an emergency. The potential complications and effects on vision should be taken seriously.
If you suffered an injury to the eye, follow these tips and seek immediate treatment:
- DO NOT try to remove any foreign objects
- DO NOT rub, apply pressure or even touch the eye
- Lightly shield the eye with a sterile pad
- DO NOT apply medication or ointment
- Avoid painkillers and anti-inflammation medications
- Seek treatment from an ophthalmologist
Once you are able to see a doctor, the physician or ophthalmologist will diagnose your eye injury and decide on a course of treatment that can range between conservative methods to intricate eye surgery.
Conservative techniques include massage and medications, and some tear duct injuries may heal completely without further intervention. In more severe cases, mildly invasive techniques such as dilation & irrigation or the use of a balloon catheter may be required. Surgery may be necessary for badly injured tear ducts; the procedure can clear blocked tear ducts and repair drainage issues, but may require months of healing time.
Contact Our Attorneys Today
Eye trauma can affect your vision and lead to permanent damage. If you or someone you care about has suffered facial injuries such as trauma to the tear duct in a Utah auto accident, you may be eligible to pursue monetary damages from the responsible party.
The Phoenix auto accident attorneys at Phillips Law understand the hardships that can be associated with debilitating injuries, including the lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering victims and their families may experience. We are devoted to seeking the maximum compensation for our clients.
Through our office in Salt Lake City, we proudly serve clients throughout Utah and the surrounding area, including:
- Canyon Rim
- Holladay
- Kearns
- Ogden
- Bountiful
- American Fork
- Provo
- and many cities throughout the west
Discover how our law firm can help defend your rights if you have a case. Call 602-222-2222 today to confidentially discuss the details of your case with one of our professionals.
Fill out the Free Case Review form at the top of this page to save time and receive a call from us.
Each day thousands of people are injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout the United States. According to a National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey more than 4 million people visited the emergency department for motor vehicle traffic injuries in 2009. Additionally, more than 1.6 million people visited the emergency room for facial trauma.
There are many different types of facial injuries a person can sustain during any type of motor vehicle accident, but a torn tear duct can be especially debilitating as it could interfere with your eyesight.
The human tear duct system is made up of multiple components and facial trauma could interfere with any part of it causing a blockage or tear. A tear may occur when the eyelid or inner part of the eye is torn during an accident whereas a blockage transpires when some type of substance has become lodged in the tear duct system thus preventing tears from draining normally.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a torn tear duct accident injury caused by a careless driver, the victim may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Our experienced accident attorneys can provide the comprehensive legal counsel you need to determine if you may be entitled to make a claim.
For a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case, fill out the FREE CASE REVIEW form to your right.
Causes of a Torn Tear Duct
Tears help keep the eyes clean and when debris gets into the eye it can help flush it out which is why having a healthy tear duct system is important.
During a car accident there are many hazardous inside, and outside, of the vehicle that can cause this type of facial injury. Some common causes of a torn tear duct include:
If youre involved in an accident with a truck carrying materials, such as a dump truck, there is also a possibility that in the event of a collision the material could come into the car and cause further eye injuries.
Symptoms of a Torn Tear Duct
Although tear duct injuries can occur for many reasons including eye infections, age-related blockage, and trauma, the symptoms that follow are often the same.
Some common blocked tear duct symptoms include:
- Excessive Tearing
- Painful Swelling Near the Eye
- Blurred Vision
- Discharge Coming from the Eye
- Repeated Eye Inflammation
- Tenderness Around the Eye and Nose
The symptoms a person may experience are similar to those of other types of eye infections, seeking medical attention will help diagnose the true problem and what kind of treatment may be needed.
Torn Tear Duct Treatment
In order to diagnose your injury doctors may perform a serious of tests including eye imaging tests and a tear drainage test to measure how quickly your tears are draining.
If a person is currently experiencing an eye infection the doctor may first prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection before moving forward with treatment.
There are three different types of treatment:
- Conservative
- Minimally Invasive
- Surgery
Conservative treatment may simply involve cleaning the eye frequently and gently massaging the injured area.
Minimally invasive procedures often involved the use of various tools to irrigate and clear the eye of the blockage including the use of a balloon catheter or stents.
Surgery is an option that may be recommended in order to clear a blocked tear duct or create a new route for tear drainage, often involving the use of stent. Once surgery has been completed it could take several months for the new tear draining route to completely heal and medication may need to be used to prevent an infection from occurring.
Contact our Phoenix Auto Accident Lawyer
At Phillips Law Group we understand how debilitating it can be to deal with a torn tear duct and believe that those who are responsible for your auto accident injuries should be held accountable for their actions.
Our main office is located in Phoenix, Arizona but we are pleased to provide comprehensive legal counsel to injured victims in various cities throughout Arizona including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Peoria
and further surrounding neighborhoods. To find out how we can help you with your accident claim, call for a free, no-obligation initial consultation about your claim with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers in Phoenix. Our intake staff members are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are ready to take your call!
If you prefer to reach us online, simply fill out the FREE CASE REVIEW form at the top right hand corner if this page and one our dedicated attorneys will review your claim right away.
Available 24/7