Table 1.

Definitions of terms used to describe eye injuries

Term	Definition
Abrasion	Defect of the corneal epithelium. Stains with fluorescein. Usually heals within 24 – 48 hours
Contusion	Result of blunt injury, either at site of impact or distant to it
Closed injury	The wall of the globe is intact but structures inside the eye are damaged
Rupture	Jagged open injury due to blunt injury, often away from the site of injury at the weakest points of the globe: concentric to the limbus, just behind the insertion of the extraocular muscles or at the equator
Open injury	A full thickness break in the wall of the eye; can follow either sharp or severe blunt injury
Lamellar laceration	Partial thickness wound caused by a sharp object
Laceration	Full thickness penetration
Penetration	Entry wound only
Perforation	‘Through and through’ injury; an injury that goes right through the eye, causing both entry and exit wounds