Often, we take the things that are most important to us for granted. Our vision is just one example. Our visual and perceptual systems make crucial decisions for us every second of the day.
During a car accident, this can all be placed at risk. Injuries to the eyes and surrounding areas are not uncommon, and the effects can be devastating.
The collision can fracture the orbital bones
Your eyes sit in sockets, and the orbital bones form the structure around them. These are some of the strongest bones in the body, so the force required to break them is tremendous. Usually, facial trauma that results in fractured orbital bones impacts other areas of the body, such as the brain. Concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries are frequently found alongside orbital bone injuries.
Damage to the optic nerve
People often think of the eyes as cameras, but the visual process is much more complex than that. The visual system relies on signals being sent from the retina to the brain, and the optic nerve is the go-between in this process. A head injury from a road traffic collision can result in severe bleeding and pressure in the skull. This pressure and bleeding can extend to the optic nerve and force it to be starved of oxygen. If emergency medical treatment is not sought out immediately, these types of injuries can result in permanent blindness.
Your eyes play a key role in your daily life, and other road users have no right to put this in danger. If you have been injured after a collision, think carefully about your legal rights.