Eye ER Horror Stories for Halloween

That spooky time of year is coming up again very soon. Whether you prefer the fun of trick-or-treating or the scariest horror flick you can find, OCLI wants to ensure you protect your eyes. The most common eye injuries resulting from Halloween are due to ill-fitting costume contacts or accidental impact with sharp objects. We found these eye emergency stories that could be scenes straight out of your favorite Halloween horror shows. Let them be lessons for eye safety. Always use common sense and protect your eyes.

Butcher Knife to the Eye Socket

This man was a victim of violence and sadly, no amount of eye protection could have helped him. He was mugged and then stabbed with a butcher knife in the eye socket. Thankfully for this patient though, the knife missed his eyeball so he was able to keep his sight.

Archer’s Nightmare

Here is a clear example where common sense was nowhere to be found. This patient loss vision to their eye after having an arrow lodged in his eyelid and several inches into his skull. The accident was a result of alcohol use.

Gone Fishin’

A group of men in their 20’s went fishing across the border to New York from Canada. One of the men caught his fishhook in one of his friends’ eyeballs – the actual eyeball, not just the eyelid. Rather than go directly to the nearest hospital, believing it would be too expensive, they drove eight hours back to Canada before getting emergency attention!

Eyeball in a Cup

This is not one of those Halloween party tricks where the eyeball is made of a hardboiled egg and an olive. A man arrived in the ER carrying his eyeball in a cup after falling in his workshop and hitting his eye on the corner of his workbench.

Prevention is Key

About half of all eye injuries happen at home. Eye injuries are often the result of flying or falling objects striking the eye. 90% of eye injuries are preventable. Follow these essential tips for preventing eye injuries.

• Always wear appropriate eye protection that fits properly whether you are playing sports or working in your shop.
• Use caution when fishing. A large number of eye injuries are related to fishhooks.
• If you ride a motorcycle, wear eye protection. Rocks and other debris from the road can be kicked up by vehicles around you.
• Make sure Halloween masks and costume contacts fit properly.

Signs You Should Go to the ER

Whatever you do, do not treat your eye injury yourself. Even if you feel it is minor, have it checked out to avoid the potential complications that come with self-treatment.

If you haven’t experienced an eye injury but you experience any of the following symptoms, you need to get emergency medical attention as soon as possible.

• Sudden blindness,
• Sudden pain in the eye area,
• Sudden and extreme sensitivity to light, or
• Curtains in your field of vision.

Take precautions this Halloween by protecting your eyes whenever possible and avoiding dangerous situations. It’s important to take proper care of your eyes. Regular eye exams are an integral part of your eye health. Contact OCLI today to schedule your next eye exam.

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