Eye Trauma: What To Do Immediately After an Eye Injury | Sports, Chemical, and Projectile Injuries

Could one second change your vision forever? In Episode 81 of The Eye-Q Podcast, Dr. Rani Banik, MD sits down with world-renowned retina surgeon and ocular trauma expert Dr. Ronald Gentile, MD to discuss the most common eye injuries, emergency first aid, sports eye safety, and when you need immediate medical attention. Questions answered in this episode: What should I do if something gets in my eye? Should I rinse my eye with water after a chemical splash? When should I go to the emergency room for an eye injury? Can a finger to the eye cause blindness? Are sports goggles really necessary? What causes retinal injuries after blunt trauma? What are the most common sports eye injuries? How can eye injuries be prevented? Eye injuries happen every day—from basketball games and DIY projects to workplace accidents and household chemicals. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can make the difference between saving your sight and permanent vision loss. You'll learn: ✔ What to do immediately after an eye injury ✔ When an eye injury is a medical emergency ✔ Why rubbing your eye can make an injury worse ✔ How to treat chemical injuries to the eye ✔ The warning signs of retinal trauma ✔ Why sports-related eye injuries are often preventable ✔ The best protective eyewear for sports and DIY projects ✔ Common workplace eye injuries and how to avoid them Eye trauma is one of the leading causes of preventable vision loss, but many serious injuries can be avoided through education, protective eyewear, and prompt medical care. Dr. Gentile shares decades of experience caring for patients with severe ocular injuries and offers practical advice everyone should know. About My Guest Ronald Gentile, MD, is a board-certified retina specialist, Professor of Ophthalmology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Director of Posterior Segment Trauma at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He specializes in retinal surgery and ocular trauma and has helped restore vision for patients with some of the most complex eye injuries.