Splashes and spills can happen while cleaning or cooking. To prevent chemical burns and permanent eye damage, immediately rinse your eyes with clean, running water. Continue to do the flushing or eyewash for 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the chemical exposure. It is advisable to seek medical attention or get checked by your doctor even after doing an emergency eyewash.
2. Physical injury or accidents
Direct injury to the eye or head can cause sudden loss of vision, either temporarily or permanently. Facial injuries due to sports or car accidents can injure structures around the eye or the actual eyes. Paralysis of the eyelid will cause drooping or involuntary closure, known as ptosis.
In severe cases of physical head trauma, the retina may become torn or detached. The retina is the thin layer of tissue that lines the inner eyeball and is responsible for detecting light. Signs of retinal detachment include seeing floaters or dark spots in your vision, flashes of light, or large shadows in your field of vision, sometimes described like a curtain falling down.
Punctures, penetration, and retinal detachment are medical emergencies that should be treated at a hospital. Ptosis may be temporary, but usually indicates an underlying neurological or mechanical condition.
3. Diabetic retinopathy
Similarly, long-standing and poorly managed diabetes can damage the retina. High blood sugar can affect the small blood vessels that supply the eye and retina. When these vessels are damaged, the retina cells receive less oxygen and can’t relay signals to the brain. This results in blindness or vision loss.
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