When a person is involved in a car accident there are a number of injuries that may occur, some include painful facial injuries such as a torn or blocked tear duct.
A tear duct injury can occur when there is partial or complete obstruction to the tear drainage system or when an eyelid is torn causing the tear duct to also tear. Blocked tear ducts are actually common in children but in adults the cause of such a problem is an injury, tumor, or infection.
Facial injuries are common in car crashes and in the United States approximately 2 million people are injured in accidents each year. According to some studies all persons are likely to be involved in three to four accidents in their lifetime. Thus, your chances of experiencing facial injuries after a collision are high as our eyes are usually not protected by any safety devices.
If you or anyone you know has suffered from a tear duct injury caused in an auto accident, the victim may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. Our personal injury lawyers may be able to help you with your claim.
Fill out the FREE CASE REVIEW to your right for a free, no-obligation review of your case.
Causes of a Tear Duct Injury
The interior of a vehicle can be the catalyst for many injuries, including a torn or blocked tear duct. As our faces are primarily exposed to the crash environment the following items could impair your tear ducts:
- Steering Wheel
- Seatbelt
- Broken glass
- Airbags
- Dashboard
- Materials from other vehicles such as a dump truck
If you are involved a serious accident hazardous materials from other cars could also harm you. For example, if a large truck is carrying construction material that penetrates your car it could result in facial injuries.
Symptoms of a Tear Duct Injury
There are a few signs and symptoms that may be caused by a torn or blocked tear duct, car accident injury victims should watch for:
- Excessive tearing
- Recurrent eye infections and inflammation
- Painful swelling near the inside corner of the eye
- Excessive discharge
- And blurred vision
These symptoms are common in eye infections and injuries, an eye doctor can better pin down what your issue may be.
Treating a Tear Duct Injury
The type of tear duct problem you have will determine what kind of treatment you might expect to undergo for your injury. If youve been involved in a car accident and suffered a tear duct injury there are three types of treatment available.
- Conservative Treatment
- Minimally Invasive Treatment
- Surgery
A conservative treatment might include at home treatment like wiping away excess drainage and gently massaging the area.
Minimally invasive treatment may be used for adults who have partially blocked tear ducts. The three types of minimally invasive treatments are as follows:
Dilatation, probing, and irrigation This treatment flushes out whatever is causing the tear duct blockage.
Balloon Catheter Dilation This type of treatment is often used if your ducts are being blocked by scarring or inflammation and can help open up the blockage.
Stenting or Intubation A more invasive procedure, this process involves the insertion of a small tube and could take up to three months to be completed.
Surgery is usually recommended for adults and older children. The procedure actually reconstructs the passageway for tears to drain our normally again.
Contact a Knoxville Auto Accident Attorney
Tear duct injuries can be a hampering injury, especially because the physical symptoms can make it difficult for an eye injury victim to see until the injury actually heals. If you are anyone you know is seeking legal counsel about a tear duct injury they have endured, our attorneys are here to provide the assistance needed.
Our dedicated attorneys at Greg Coleman Law have more than 40 years of combined experience and have undergone hundreds of trials. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee we also provide quality legal services to the following areas:
- Marble City
- Park City
- Burlington
- Clinton
- Asheville
- and more
Contact us at (865) 247-0080 and one or committed staff members will connect you with an attorney that is experienced in tear duct injury claims.
You can also contact us online by filling out the FREE CASE REVIEW form at the top right hand corner of the page its entirely confidential and 100% free to submit.
