Ocular Trauma Unit

Lesions are diagnosed both in blunt and sharp trauma to orbital walls, eyelids, lacrimal system, cornea, crystalline lens, iris, vitreous humour, retina, choroid and optic disc. Loss of vision is also possible due to damage along the visual pathway from the eye to the visual cerebral cortex in the occipital lobe.

Since its foundation in 1989, VERTE has had an ophthalmic traumatology service.

Thanks to the improvement in occupational health and safety measures for high-risk jobs, the incidence of severe lesions has fallen considerably. From a medical-surgical point of view, better knowledge of scarring processes and modern ocular microsurgery techniques have enabled us to restore eyes affected by trauma much more effectively. As a result, complete loss of vision or of an eye is now much less common than before.

Prompt and accurate care using modern microsurgical techniques significantly reduces the consequences of ocular trauma. All the efforts of this Unit are aimed at providing prompt care to patients, reducing the after-effects, and helping to improve visual and occupational rehabilitation, always in close collaboration with the Occupational Health Mutual Societies.

In addition to workplace trauma, the following also require special attention:

• sports trauma
• traffic accidents
• violence-related injuries, and, with even greater impact
• wounds resulting from armed conflict in patients visiting us from overseas.

The Ocular Trauma Unit counts on the support of other Clinical Units, namely the A&E, Cornea, Vitreoretinal, Glaucoma, Orbital, Neuro-Ophthalmology and Refractive Surgery Units.