Serious ocular trauma is an infrequent, sight-threatening event, associated with significant monocular visual morbidity
Blunt trauma
Blowout fracture
Occurs when there is a fracture of one of the walls of the orbit but the orbital rim remains intact; typically caused by a direct blow to the central orbit from a fist or a ball
Inferior blowout fractures are the most common - orbital fat prolapses into the maxillary sinus and may be joined by prolapse of the inferior rectus muscle, resulting in diplopia
Subconjunctival haemorrhage
Occurs when one of the small blood vessels within the conjunctiva ruptures and release blood into the space between the sclera and the conjunctiva
Often appear after episodes of strenuous activity such as heavy coughing, weight lifting or straining when constipated
It can also be caused by trauma to the eye
Resolve spontaneously without any treatment, usually takes around 2 weeks
Globe rupture
More commonly occurs after direct penetrating trauma but if sufficient blunt force is applied to the eye the intraocular pressure can increase enough to rupture the sclera
Hyphaemia
Blood in the anterior chamber, sign of fairly significant intra-ocular trauma