Houston Eye Injury Lawyer

Vision loss is perhaps the most traumatic and devastating personal injury. The mental anguish experienced by eye injury victims is extensive. The CDC estimated that people with vision loss are more likely to report depression, diabetes, and premature death. In addition, their quality of life is substantially compromised because of their inability to drive, read, keep accounts, and travel in unfamiliar places. If you have been injured due to another’s negligence, contact our Houston eye injury lawyers today! A catastrophic injury attorney is ready to support your case.

How Common are Eye Injuries at Work?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that each day, more than 2,000 U.S. workers seek some form of medical treatment because of an eye injury, including blindness sustained at work.

These workplace injuries are caused by objects, equipment, and exposure to harmful substances or environments, like chemicals and bright lights. In Texas, the energy industry depends upon the petrochemical plants in Texas City and the oil refineries in Pasadena. Anyone working at facilities like these must ensure that they use personal protective equipment, which includes safety glasses.

While vision impairment can occur after a direct eye injury, including penetrating objects or failed laser eye surgery, many more vision problems arise from head injuries, such as from a car accident or violent attack. An attorney could determine the cause of an eye injury and hold the right people accountable.

Types of Eye Injuries

Head injuries with brain damage can cause severe vision damage, resulting in total blindness if left untreated. These serious vision problems can result from even mild head injuries, such as a fall or whiplash from a minor car accident. These include:

• Retinal detachment, where the retina (a thin layer of tissue lining the inside back of the eye, responsible for translating images into signals for the brain) becomes loose
• Optic nerve damage, where pressure is placed on the optic nerves (responsible for carrying messages from the eyes to the brain), choking the optic nerves and cutting off blood circulation
• Vitreous hemorrhage, where blood vessels in your eye bleed into the vitreous (jellylike substance in your eye which light passes though before striking the retina)

Symptoms of Eye Injuries

Common symptoms indicating potential vision problems, whether from an eye or head injury, include the following:

• Difficulty focusing at near and distant objects
• Blurred vision and double vision
• Nausea or vomiting when shifting gaze
• Sensitivity to light
• Fluctuation/reduction in vision capabilities
• Aching eyes or headaches

Of course, these could also be symptoms of other injuries such as head injuries so you should immediately seek medical attention if you experience any discomfort after an accident.

If you or a loved one is experiencing one or more of these symptoms following an eye or head injury, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical treatment, so a doctor can check that your eyes and brain are working properly.

The partial or total loss of vision may also be compensable in a personal injury claim. This includes the actual injury, as well as the mental and emotional trauma caused by vision loss.

Fleming Law knows how to properly compute the physical, psychological and mental toll of a partial or total loss of vision, so that you get the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve. Call a Houston eye injury lawyer at Fleming Law for a free consultation.