Eye Injury

[Guyanalady]

I visited a doctor 4 days after getting hit in the eye with a tennis ball. I had been having symptoms that included headaches, pressure in the eye area, a bright white clump of floaters ever few minutes in the lower left corner of my eye. In the first two days after the injury, I had a black triangle that hung over my eye blocking my vision slightly. But that black triangle has since gone away. The doctor did a dilated eye exam and said that I did not have a retinal tear nor a retinal detachment. He said it was PVD, and I should continue to watch it over the next 3 weeks to ensure that the symptoms don’t worsen. He gave me a steroid/antibacterial drops. I use them 3 times a day, and they burn my eye. I now have itching in the eye, but no other new symptoms - the floaters with white light continue. Should I get a second opinion?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Yes, the risk of a retinal detachment, traumatic glaucoma or traumatic cataract are significant.  Hopefully the first 'doc' that saw you was a Eye MD ophthalmologist. If it was a non physician optometrist (OD) I would see an ophthalmologist ASAP, if you did see an Eye MD I would either ask for a referral ASAP to a retina specialist MD or call and get one yourself. If you tell them blow to eye,  and new floaters most will see you same day or next day.