Can A Whiplash Injury Affect Your Eyesight?

Whiplash is, unfortunately, a common injury amongst victims of road traffic accidents. Most people associate whiplash injuries with neck, shoulder and back pain but what other symptoms can be caused when you suffer a whiplash injury and, importantly, can whiplash affect your eyesight? This article seeks to answer some of these questions by looking at how a whiplash injury is caused, the many symptoms that can follow, what you should do if you think you may be suffering from a whiplash injury and treatment and recovery.

A whiplash injury is caused during a road traffic accident, often - but not always -, when one vehicle collides with the rear of another vehicle. This causes the head and neck of the driver and passengers in the vehicle to suddenly and forcefully be thrown back and forth causing the soft-tissue and ligaments in the neck to be stretched beyond their normal range of movement. Following the accident, you may not immediately be aware that you are suffering from a whiplash injury. The symptoms of a whiplash injury often take several hours, or even several days to occur, and can include neck, shoulder and back pain, headaches, nausea, dizziness, giddiness, stiffness, restricted movement and pins and needles. However, it is not totally uncommon for people who have sustained a whiplash injury to also complain of visual disturbances such as rapid eye movement and blurred vision. This can be caused as a result of the collision causing your posture and nervous system to be suddenly and forcefully disturbed.

If you think you may be suffering from a whiplash injury you should seek immediate medical advice from your local A&E department or your GP. They will be able to advise you on the most appropriate course of treatment which can range from gentle mobility exercises to physiotherapy, depending on the severity of your injury. If the problems you are experiencing with your eyes are particularly severe, or do not seem to be improving you may be referred to an eye specialist. The length of time it takes you to recover from your injuries will also depend on how severely you have been injured. People suffering from a minor whiplash injury may make a full recovery within a few weeks or months of the accident whereas victims of more serious injuries may take a year or more to make a full recovery. In some rare cases, the sufferer may be left with ongoing symptoms that are likely to be permanent.

If you think you are suffering from a whiplash injury which could be affecting your eyesight you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to achieve the best course of treatment and aid your recovery. If you would like to make a claim for compensation for your injuries you should seek advice from a specialist whiplash claims solicitor as soon as possible after the accident.


Copyright (c) 2011 Nicholas Jervis