Eye Injury Lawyer Philadelphia Pennsylvania

There are few injuries that are more painful than eye injuries. Not only can eye injuries cause burning, swelling, discomfort and inconvenience, but they can also result in permanent eye damage and complete or partial vision loss. The most common eye injuries are:

Scratched Eyes

If a person gets poked in the eye or rubs the eye when a foreign body such as sand or dust is present, the eye's surface may develop corneal abrasions. Corneal abrasions are very uncomfortable and can cause severe sensitivity to light. Scratches also can make your eye susceptible to infection from bacteria or a fungus. Certain types of bacteria and fungi can enter the eye through a scratch and cause serious harm in as little as 24 hours. Even blindness can result. In a construction site setting, corneal abrasions are very common, especially when construction workers do not wear safety goggles. If you noticed something has scratched your eye, it is very important to see your eye doctor or an emergency room/urgent care center to seek treatment for your eye injury.

Penetrating Injuries

If a foreign object such as a metal flake or a fish hook penetrates the eye, the injury may be very severe. It is important not to attempt to remove the object yourself, but to visit the emergency room/urgent care center right away. Small sharp pieces of metal may become embedded in the eye's surface and, if left there, can quickly form a rust ring and a significant scar. Many penetrating eye injuries occur as a result construction accidents and accidents in daycare facilities [when children are left unsupervised].

Chemical Burns

Chemical burns occur when a person gets splashed or sprayed in the eye with chemical solutions, especially acid and alkali. Chemical eye injuries caused by acid are characterized by redness and burning, while those caused by alkali are much more serious. Some examples of alkali substances are oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and even chalk dust. Chemical eye burn accidents usually occur in the workplace and can cause serious eye damage and even blindness.

Swelling

Eye swelling or puffiness can result from being struck in the eye with a hard object such a baseball moving at a high speed. Most of swelling eye injuries occur during sports accidents. A person who suffered a blow to the eye should see an eye doctor to make sure there is no internal damage.

Eye Bleeding (Subconjunctival Hemorrhages)

Eye bleeding involves leakage of blood from one or more breaks in a blood vessel that lies between the white of the eye and its clear covering. Subconjunctival hemorrhages can happen as a result of even minor injury to the eye. Eye bleeding looks more severe than it really is. Usually, it is painless, does not require treatment and does not cause vision loss. Eye bleeding resolves in several weeks, even if left untreated.

Traumatic Iritis

Traumatic iritis is inflammation of the colored part of the eye that surrounds the iris. The most common cause is a blow to the eye from a blunt object such as a ball or a hand. A victim of a violent encounter or a person injured while playing sports often have traumatic iritis. In addition, many car accident victims sustain this injury because of defective air bags.

Hyphemas

Hyphema is bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye, the space between the cornea and the iris. Hyphemas are serious eye injuries and medical emergencies. They are caused by significant blunt force trauma to the eye and face, such as getting hit by a bat, baseball, hockey stick or puck, or getting kicked in the face.

Orbital blowout fractures

Orbital blowout fractures are cracks or breaks in the facial bones surrounding the eye caused by a strong blow to the eye. The are the result of playing sports, physical altercations and violence.

Eye injuries can also be the result of medical mistakes and defective products.

Lasik Eye Surgery Errors

While the majority of Lasik eye surgeries are successful, some result in permanent eye damage, because the doctor performing the surgery was negligent or careless. The laser eye operation requires the doctor to make extremely precise incision in the eye with a laser, hence, even a slight deviation can cause permanent eye damage, vision loss and other complications.

Tanning Salon Eye Injuries

Regular tanning salon visitors should know that they need to wear protective goggles when they are in a tanning booth. The concentrated UV radiation that tans the skin cannot be blocked by merely closing the eyes, wearing ordinary sunglasses or covering the eyes with cotton balls. Excessive exposure of the eyes to the ultraviolet rays can burn and damage the retina and, and, over time, can cause the lens of the eye to change. The lens will cloud and begin to form a cataract, which if not medically treated can cause blindness.

Defective Contact Lenses and Contact Lens Solutions

Defective contact lenses and contact lens solutions can cause infection, inflammation and eye diseases. Manufacturers of defective products are liable for the injuries sustained by those who got injured using their product. In November 2011, 5 million Avaira contact lenses shipped to consumers were recalled by manufacturer CooperVision Inc.. The reason for the recall was the fact that the lenses were contaminated with silicone oil residue causing blurred visions, eye injuries and severe pain. The FDA stated that the contaminated contact lenses failed to meet quality standards and may cause serious eye injuries and even death.

In 2007, Bausch & Lomb, makers of ReNu MultiPlus contact lens cleaner, recalled about 1.5 million bottles of the contact lens solution. About 1 million bottles of the popular brand were distributed in the U.S. with another 500,000 in Canada, Korea, Taiwan and Latin American. The year before, in 2006, Bausch & Lomb pulled their ReNu with MoisterLoc contact lens solution off the shelves because that solution was causing eye infections that could result in temporary blindness. The recalls were prompted by customers who reported discolored solution. The manufacture determined that the discoloration was caused by trace amounts of iron found in the solution. Some consumers reported being infected with a dangerous eye infection known as Fusarium Keratitis. This eye infection causes inflammation of the cornea in the front of the eye and in some cases requires surgery.

Fireworks

The use of fireworks by non-professionals can lead to a significant number of traumatic eye injuries. Certain types of fireworks are very dangerous. Even sparklers, which are considered to be relatively safe to use, burn at 1800 degrees (hot enough to melt gold). Sparklers account for approximately 10% of reported eye injuries; firecracker use in general accounts for 32% of the overall eye injuries; sky rockets, or bottle rockets, account for 15% of the injuries. Bottle rockets alone are responsible for most of the 2000 eye injuries per year associated with fireworks usage.

Personal Injury Lawyer Pennsylvania

If you or your loved one has suffered an eye injury, you need to make sure proper medical treatment is rendered immediately. It is also important to speak with an experienced eye injury lawyer who will advise you of your legal rights. If your eye injury was caused by the negligent, careless, willful or intentional conduct of another, you may be able to recover compensation. If your eye injury was caused by a defective product, the manufacturer and retailer may be liable for your losses. Finally, if the workplace accident caused your eye injury, you may qualify for workers' compensation and may be able to sue the responsible parties in order to recover money damages. Part of an eye injury claim is ensuring that the injured victim is compensated so they are able to pay medical bills and continued medical care and obtain expert assistance with daily living and activities.The Lassen Law Firm, Philadelphia eye injury lawyers, is here to help. We are a team of dedicated, experienced eye injury attorneys whose goal is to recover the highest compensation available to you under the law. Please call the Lassen Law Firm now to see how we can help.

The Lassen Law Firm only deducts a 29% contingency fee, not the standard 45% like other firms. We serve ALL of Pennsylvania. We can sign you up over the phone and start working on your case today.

Stop Searching. Start Calling. 215-510-6755.

Authored by: Christian Lassen