What if?

[Per]

Hi.

Interesting issue. I have thought about this myself, even though I do not often approach violence in any way. I guess if you get beat up and a hook hits the eye, it will cause demage wether you have a native, healthy cornea or a graft grown into your eye with the epithelium layer as protection. Either way it will cause demage. It is, by the way, far more victims of violence with a healthy, untouched eyes that get cornea demage. As a matter of fact, many of them even have to have an emergency graft. And I guess, if some of us graftees are so unlucky to get a punch that demages the graft, they probably stitch on another one if the original is too much demaged to get back on place.

[Drew Radcliffe]

Think I got the ultimate solution to all your problems guys

Since I started using my long white cane nobody will come near me. Even the Drug Dealing Hoody's in town help me across the road when I ask them too. Some times they even hold my hand - not my choice its just how things pan out.

Better still get a sodding great big black guide dog. I can see people crossing the streets just to avoid me; its great.

Does society assume blindness is catching? Or is it the fear of knocking the blind man over and the ensuing humiliation.

Drew

[Asif]

Interesting topic. I had the same concerns so just avoid any situations like that especially since I've had one eye grafted. The thing is your eye is protected by the bony orbit, part of it are the bones protruding from the socket so its not easy to hit clean in the eye, as you would probably make most of the contact with these bones which are fairly strong. However, if you did get hit clean in the eye, regardless or wearing a lens or not, would still cause serious damage. Its just with a rigid lens, it may shatter and cause a deep abrasion on the cornea penetrating into the corneal stroma.

[GarethB]

I used to play rugby wearing my lenses pre graft. On most occasions the lens would just fly out if I got hit in the head. The worst that happend the lens got dislodged and wedged in the corner of my eye.

Never had one break, but did have trouble removing a lens when my eye started swelling really quickly and quite badly.

[Lynn White]

I actually have never had a patient have a lens break in the eye due to this type of trauma. Mostly, as others have said, the lens can dislodge or drop out. It is hard to hit the eye directly unless you have a small hand so that you are more likely to get hit directly on the eye by a small child than an adult, and even then, the eye does "give" and absorb the shock, so its not like hitting a lens on a hard surface.

Occasionally lenses can spontaneously break in the eye if they have been subject to previous mechanical stress but in these cases the edges are usually smooth and rounded, not sharp.

Lynn

[Andrew MacLean]

Lynn

Did I hear the sharp slap of a gauntlet being thrown down?

Sorry I can't pick it up: I no longer wear lenses

Andrew

[David M.]

This is a coincidence I've just joined this forum and was going to ask for advice about being punched in the face.
I work in a secure mental health unit which houses people with challenging and violent behaviours. Last March I got punched in the face by one of the clients. In the following months I've noticed a deterioration in the sight in my left eye. Considering my KC had been stable for just over ten years I was wondering whether there was link. Can being punched in the face actually cause a progression of KC?
D.

[Andrew MacLean]

David M.

The honest answer is that I don't know whether being hit can cause progression of KC. Your KC may be progressing anyway, and the change may be coincidentally close to the trauma.

I'd have it checked out by your ophthalmologist.

Andrew

[asylumxl]

i got punched in the eye once with my contacts in, it hurt, majorly, and the eye feels like its bruised for a while after. it pretty much feels like tight lens syndrome cos it essentially is the same thing lol if you get my drift.

avoid being punched at all costs - punch them first lol

[Lynn White]

Andrew..

Yep, well I'd like to hear from someone who HAS had a lens break from trauma!

David M brings up a good point here. As eye rubbing is implicated in KC, a really strong thump in the eye can possibly cause deterioration as the KC cornea is much thinner than the normal cornea and therefore is much more susceptible to mechanical stress.

This is actually more of a possible problem than a lens breaking, depending on how advanced the KC is and certainly if one is grafted and stitches are still in, then a blow can certainly break them.

Anyone sustaining a blow to the eye should have this checked out by a professional and that certainly goes for you David, as you have noticed a deterioration in vision.

Lynn