Eye History

Maintain a high index of suspicion for ocular injuries based on mechanism of injury.

- Blast injury.
- Direct facial and eye trauma.
- Cranial or brain injury.
- Metal on metal mechanisms (metallic fragments can penetrate without obvious signs on exam).
- Compressive blunt force trauma that may lead to a ruptured globe.
- Multisystem trauma that may cause unrecognized ocular trauma due to severity of other injuries.
- Thermal burns, especially to the face.
- Exposure to possible irritants such as smoke, aerosols, or burn pits.

Ask the handler if the MWD’s ability to see in varying conditions has changed (i.e., night vision, day vision, stationary versus moving objects).

Ask the handler if the MWD was wearing eye protection at the time of injury.