Workers’ Compensation: Vision Loss

If you do experience an eye injury, seek immediate medical attention. 

Workplace injuries can be devastating. Unexpectedly, lives can be changed and you may be unable to earn a living while you recover from your injury, sometimes injury results in permanent disability and workers cannot return to their jobs at all. This is stressful, puts financial strain on families, and makes focusing on recovery practically impossible.

Eye injuries and vision loss can be especially frightening. Vision loss can either be temporary or permanent, and while even temporary vision loss can affect everyday life, permanent vision loss will change the rest of your life and your family’s lives.

To avoid eye injury, you should always wear proper eye protection. You should never take chances with your vision. Any accident can be serious. If you do experience an eye injury, seek immediate medical attention. Some workplace injuries do not require immediate attention and in these cases your employer can dictate what medical provider you see, at least initially. But if the situation is an emergency, your employer is required to allow you to seek immediate treatment. They are also required to pay for your medical expenses and the wages you might lose as the result of your injury.

Vision loss can be total blindness or it can be partial. There are various stages of vision loss. It is important to get checked out if you sustain a head injury or eye injury because it is possible for any level of eye/vision loss or impairment to be either permanent or temporary. All eye injuries regardless of the cause, have the potential to be very serious.

Causes of Eye Injuries

Workplace injuries that cause vision loss or impairment can happen from falls or blows to the head, objects that penetrate the eye, or chemicals making contact with the eye.

In many instances these injuries could be avoided by wearing the proper protective gear. Employers should provide the proper training for employees, require that the right protective gear be worn at all times, and in some cases it is required that there be an eye wash station in close proximity in order for workers to quickly rinse their eyes if needed. In industries such as manufacturing, an eye wash station can make the difference between a close call and permanent vision loss.

Workers’ Compensation Attorney

If you or a loved one has sustained an eye injury and have vision loss as a result, contact a workers’ compensation attorney in order to understand your full rights and to make sure you are getting full compensation for your injuries. Employers are legally required to provide workers’ compensation benefits to injured workers, and if you are not receiving benefits or feel like you are not adequately being compensated, contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann as soon as possible to discuss your case. It is important that you are able to get the compensation you deserve and have your medical expenses paid for by your employer following a workplace injury. Employees have the right to these benefits and must by law be awarded them.

Work Related Injuries

photo credit: Focus Laser Vision