ktgrok Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 (edited) Last night around 11:30pm I got smacked in the eye by my hound dog's whippy tail. His tail is very boney, and he whips it HARD. I was bent over to help the other dog stand up and just got whacked. Pretty sure my eye was closed, cornea doesn't feel scratched or anything. More blunt impact. It was easily the most painful thing to happen in a long long long while. I yelled "OW OW OW" and then for DH to get me some ice. The pain lessened quickly. I took my contact out and went to sleep. It was a bit painful as I was falling asleep but not enough for me to bother getting up to get ibuprofen, lol. This morning it looks okay, maybe slightly blood shot but so is the other eye, from allergies - I mowed the lawn yesterday and that always makes my eyes itchy. But I notice it is still slightly sore if I bother to pay attention, and when exposed to light it hurts for a second, I'm guessing that I'm feeling the muscles change the pupil diameter? It doesn't keep hurting, so not actual light sensitivity, it is just that first half second as it adjusts. Vision is perfectly fine. I was able to put my contact in and that doesn't hurt. It's just a bit achey and mostly when the light changes. This isn't one of those things where you find out later that you go blind from some hidden problem, right? Like, I am fine, and will ignore it and go on with my life, unless this is one of those "oh, if we'd seen you earlier we could have given you special eye drops but now you will have your eye rot out of your head, sorry" situations, right? I don't have any of the issues listed in this article - no floaters, vision change, dark spots https://providenceeye.com/blog/getting-hit-in-the-eye-ask-our-optometrist I know corneal abrasions have to be checked and treated, but I can't remember getting hit in the eye like this. I think once, when I was a kid, and someone let go of a jumprope and the end hit my eye...but they just gave me some ice and then I went on with my day. I can do that now, right? Edited July 21, 2021 by ktgrok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 It’s probably nothing but why risk it? Call your eye doctor and get seen today. If it gets infected you have an infection in your brain. That can get very bad very fast. Go see someone or at the very least call your eye doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 21, 2021 Author Share Posted July 21, 2021 Just now, Katy said: It’s probably nothing but why risk it? Call your eye doctor and get seen today. If it gets infected you have an infection in your brain. That can get very bad very fast. Go see someone or at the very least call your eye doctor. I don't actually have an eye doctor. Our insurance switches up who we can see each year it seems. So I looked and I'd have to go to somewhere new. I'm not worried about infection, there is no scratch or anything - I've had corneal abrasions before and this isn't like that. This is more like bruised if that makes sense, like behind the eye/around it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 Just now, ktgrok said: I don't actually have an eye doctor. Our insurance switches up who we can see each year it seems. So I looked and I'd have to go to somewhere new. I'm not worried about infection, there is no scratch or anything - I've had corneal abrasions before and this isn't like that. This is more like bruised if that makes sense, like behind the eye/around it. Call whoever is on the list and go in. It may be just like a bruise, or you may have swelling in your optic nerve. I’ve had something similar before. It was a severe concussion and I had to follow up with a neurologist for months. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 6 minutes ago, ktgrok said: when exposed to light it hurts for a second, I'm guessing that I'm feeling the muscles change the pupil diameter? It's just a bit achey and mostly when the light changes. I don't have any of the issues listed in this article - no floaters, vision change, dark spots https://providenceeye.com/blog/getting-hit-in-the-eye-ask-our-optometrist if in any doubt, get it checked. I don't play games with eyes. the cornea probably is irritated (like a small bruise), even if it had been whacked with the lid closed - that would make the dilation and contraction of the iris hurt. eye pain is one of the worst. I had an eye infection where I was given drops to dilate my eye, just to reduce the pain. eyes can be pretty resilient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 16 minutes ago, Katy said: It’s probably nothing but why risk it? Call your eye doctor and get seen today. If it gets infected you have an infection in your brain. That can get very bad very fast. Go see someone or at the very least call your eye doctor. what? where did that come from? your eye and your brain are separate. I had a horrendous eye infection, that even my ophthal was getting "concerned" because he couldn't get it under control. (and sent me to someone else.). the infection even traveled down my tear duct into my sinuses and on to my inner ear. It was weeks getting it under control, and still a months getting rid of the eye infection itself, though my health has never been the same. I did not have an eye infection in my brain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 21, 2021 Author Share Posted July 21, 2021 So I remembered one of my friends is married to an eye doctor. I messaged her, she's checking with her husband and will get back to me. Definitely not a concussion - his tail is strong but not THAT strong. Just feels like I got punched in the eye. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 21 minutes ago, gardenmom5 said: what? where did that come from? your eye and your brain are separate. I had a horrendous eye infection, that even my ophthal was getting "concerned" because he couldn't get it under control. (and sent me to someone else.). the infection even traveled down my tear duct into my sinuses and on to my inner ear. It was weeks getting it under control, and still a months getting rid of the eye infection itself, though my health has never been the same. I did not have an eye infection in my brain. Anatomy & Physiology courses in nursing school, working in a neurology floor in a hospital, my own eye injury causing a severe concussion, and numerous pediatric medical vision specialists. Two of the kids we’ve fostered and one we adopted had vision affected by child abuse. We’ve spent more time than typical learning about eye and brain damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 21, 2021 Author Share Posted July 21, 2021 So, heard back from eye doctor husband guy! He gave me a list of stuff to watch for (drainage, severe light sensitivity or other severe pain, flashing lights or spots or any vision changes) and said the pain I'm having is same as if I had injured any other muscle, just from some swelling. To take some ibuprofen and let him know if anything changes. Yay for friends with eye doctor husbands! (my area is a hot spot now for Delta variant Covid, and my city isn't great with vaccines so sitting face to face with anyone that close is not high on my list of things to do, masked or not, right now) 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 52 minutes ago, ktgrok said: I don't actually have an eye doctor. Our insurance switches up who we can see each year it seems. So I looked and I'd have to go to somewhere new. I'm not worried about infection, there is no scratch or anything - I've had corneal abrasions before and this isn't like that. This is more like bruised if that makes sense, like behind the eye/around it. For future reference, this probably would've fallen under regular insurance and your pcp could've sent you to an eye doctor. Glad you have an eye doctor connection and could avoid an office visit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 15 minutes ago, Katy said: Anatomy & Physiology courses in nursing school, working in a neurology floor in a hospital, my own eye injury causing a severe concussion, and numerous pediatric medical vision specialists. Two of the kids we’ve fostered and one we adopted had vision affected by child abuse. We’ve spent more time than typical learning about eye and brain damage. you're describing an exceptional case - not even typical of most eye injuries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 If you get the flashing lights or lots of floaters, don’t wait around to be seen—those are signs of a detached retina and that needs to be addressed FAST for full recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 21, 2021 Author Share Posted July 21, 2021 9 minutes ago, happi duck said: For future reference, this probably would've fallen under regular insurance and your pcp could've sent you to an eye doctor. Glad you have an eye doctor connection and could avoid an office visit! You know, I was wondering about that - if eye injury would be different than vision problem. 2 minutes ago, Carol in Cal. said: If you get the flashing lights or lots of floaters, don’t wait around to be seen—those are signs of a detached retina and that needs to be addressed FAST for full recovery. Yes, that is on my list to watch out for. If i have anything like that I promise I will contact doctor asap. I truly don't ignore eye issues - when I worked in veterinary medicine the ONE thing we were REQUIRED to schedule same day, no matter how busy we were, were eye issues. Because yes, blindness can happen in less than 24 hours with certain things. I just wasn't sure if this was one of those things, lol. Like, could I go blind with no symptoms suddenly, but eye doctor assured me that 1. okay to take ibuprofen and in fact SHOULD to take swelling down that is causing the pain, and 2. what to watch for so I'd know if/when to go in. I just was having trouble finding info on this particular issue - everything I was reading was about blows to the eye that cause orbital fractures, and his tail isn't THAT strong, lol. Although, I will admit that the number of times his tail has caused pain or injury to himself or others has me understanding why certain types of tails are docked! (not his breed though...but I don't think he has the right kind of tail for his breed maybe? Are hound tails ususally lacking in padding? I've never had a dog with a tail so OUCH! He WHIPS it back and forth and it has left marks on people's skin - big welts! It's not like a lab tail, or a pit bull tail even. And moves faster/harder than a thin greyhound tail. The thing is a weapon! I really really really wish we'd just amputated it when it was broken!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutheart Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 About a month ago, I smacked my eye with my own ponytail. It hurt at the time, and then I didn't think about it. Then my eye started hurting a couple evenings later. By the time I woke up the next day, my upper eyelid was visibly swollen and red. The eyeball itself was fine. I went to the eye doctor and it was infected, like pinkeye but only presenting on the eyelid. Some antibiotic eyedrops cleared it up. So even if it's just a swollen eyelid, it could still be infected. And yes, the eye doctor filed with the medical insurance, not the vision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 OH! If they give you antibiotic drops, resist any that end with Oxycin as those are in the same family as Cipro which can contribute to a tendency for retinal detachment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted July 21, 2021 Author Share Posted July 21, 2021 No visible swelling or redness, but I'll keep an eye on it. I've had infected eyes and eyelids before, so know what to look for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 49 minutes ago, gardenmom5 said: you're describing an exceptional case - not even typical of most eye injuries. I’m describing multiple people with severe injuries, but they aren’t exceptional. They are typical severe injuries. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 2 hours ago, ktgrok said: I don't actually have an eye doctor. Our insurance switches up who we can see each year it seems. So I looked and I'd have to go to somewhere new. I'm not worried about infection, there is no scratch or anything - I've had corneal abrasions before and this isn't like that. This is more like bruised if that makes sense, like behind the eye/around it. Suggestion: Immediately, or sooner, call and make the earliest possible appointment with an M.D. who is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist. That person and only that person can examine your eye(s) properly. The best news for you would be him/her telling you that you are OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 5 hours ago, gardenmom5 said: I don't play games with eyes. This. And for something like this, I agree with Lanny and would see an ophthalmologist. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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