Bruised Retina

Ask an Eye M.D. Answer Archive

Question:
I was hit in the eye with a tennis ball when I was 11. I thought I just popped a blood vessel but I found out that I have a bruised retina and was told there is nothing they can do to fix a bruised retina. I wondered if this was true as my vision is very bad in that eye and I would like it fixed.

Answer:
A "bruised" retina can occur from blunt trauma. Often immediately after the injury, the retina will appear "whitened" and this is referred to as a commotio. If this occurs in the area responsible for central vision (called the macula), it can result in permanent vision loss. It is important to have an eye examination to determine if there is another cause for your vision loss that may be treatable.

Answered by: John W. Kitchens, MD 

Categories: Eye Injuries

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