Vision Loss and Eye Injuries in Georgia Accident Claims

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An eye injury in a Georgia accident claim raises one question before the others: will the injury cost the person sight, now or later? MedlinePlus states that “[c]ommon causes of blunt trauma include things like fists, tennis balls, and airbags,” and that because “the eye is easily damaged,” eye injuries and emergencies “can lead to vision loss if untreated.”

How Eyes Are Injured

MedlinePlus describes eye emergencies as including cuts, scratches, objects in the eye, burns, chemical exposure, and blunt injuries to the eye or eyelid.

  • Blunt trauma can leave bleeding under the skin, the bruise called a black eye, and swelling of the eyelid and surrounding tissue. “Blunt trauma can cause a hyphema, which is blood inside the front of the eye.”
  • Penetrating trauma, from objects such as nails or foreign bodies thrown at high speed by machining or grinding, can be serious: such injuries “usually require repair by a surgeon,” and “[l]oss of the eye is not uncommon in serious injuries.”
  • Chemical injury can come from a work-related accident or from household products. Acid burns can leave a haze on the cornea that may clear, while alkaline substances such as lime, lye, and drain cleaners “may cause permanent damage to the cornea.”
  • Foreign objects such as dust and sand can become embedded in the cornea, the clear tissue covering the front of the eye; persistent pain, sensitivity to light, and redness are signs that treatment is needed.

The symptoms MedlinePlus lists include bleeding or discharge from or around the eye, bruising, decreased or double vision, eye pain, headache, total or partial loss of vision, pupils of unequal size, redness, a sensation of something in the eye, sensitivity to light, and stinging or burning. It states that “[i]t is important to get medical attention for eye or eyelid injuries and problems.”

Two Injuries That Threaten Sight

Hyphema. A hyphema is blood in the front chamber of the eye, behind the cornea and in front of the iris, and MedlinePlus states that it “is most often caused by trauma to the eye.” Its symptoms include eye pain, light sensitivity, and vision abnormalities, and the tests include an eye exam, a measurement of the pressure inside the eye, and ultrasound. Mild cases may not need treatment, as the blood is absorbed in a few days, but “[t]he outcome of the condition will likely be much worse if bleeding comes back or worsens, especially within 3 to 5 days,” and an eye doctor may need to remove the blood surgically. “Severe vision loss can occur,” and the complications MedlinePlus lists include acute glaucoma.

Retinal detachment. The retina, a layer of tissue at the back of the eye, provides “the sharp, central vision needed for reading, driving, and seeing fine detail.” A detachment lifts or pulls the retina from its normal position. MedlinePlus lists having had an eye injury among the factors that make a detachment more likely. Its symptoms include an increase in floaters, light flashes, or what seems like a “curtain” over the field of vision. “A retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If not promptly treated, it can cause permanent vision loss.” Treatment includes different types of surgery.

The Claim: Losses and Future Risk

Georgia’s statute on arguing damages lists “physical impairment,” “disfigurement,” and “loss of enjoyment of life” among noneconomic damages and “past and future medical expenses” and “loss of earning capacity” among economic damages (OCGA 9-10-184(a)(1), (2)). A loss of the central vision MedlinePlus ties to reading and driving bears on impairment and on the ability to work; the loss of an eye bears on disfigurement.

An eye injury can also carry risks that have not yet occurred, such as the later complications MedlinePlus describes. Georgia’s damages statutes treat a consequence that is merely imagined or possible as too remote to support recovery (OCGA 51-12-8), and allow recovery for one that follows legally and naturally from the wrongful act even if it is contingent to some extent (OCGA 51-12-9). Expert testimony about the injury’s cause or its future course is subject to the reliability test of OCGA 24-7-702(b).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a black eye hide a more serious injury?
MedlinePlus states that “[s]ometimes, serious damage to the eye itself occurs from the pressure of a swollen eyelid or face,” and that “[a]n injury to the eyelid may be a sign of a severe injury to the eye itself.”

Can a small hyphema go unnoticed?
MedlinePlus states that a small hyphema may not be visible when the injured person looks at the eye in a mirror, while a total hyphema blocks the view of the iris and pupil.

Can bruising around the eyes come from a head injury rather than an eye injury?
MedlinePlus states that “[c]ertain types of skull fractures can cause bruising around the eyes, even without direct injury to the eye.”

  • MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, “Eye emergencies” (review date Apr. 29, 2025); “Hyphema” (review date Oct. 2, 2024)
  • MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), “Retinal Detachment” (last updated Dec. 3, 2025)
  • OCGA 9-10-184(a)(1), (2)
  • OCGA 51-12-8; OCGA 51-12-9
  • OCGA 24-7-702(b)

Disclaimer

This article provides general information about eye injury and vision loss claims under Georgia law. It is not medical advice or legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. A person with an eye injury needs prompt medical attention. How a claim is valued depends on the injury, the medical evidence, and the specific facts, and anyone with a potential claim should consult a licensed Georgia attorney promptly about the particular situation.

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