The structure of the face and eyes is well suited for protecting the eyes from injury. The eyeball is set into a socket surrounded by a strong, bony ridge. The eyelids can close quickly to form a barrier to foreign objects, and the eye can tolerate a light impact without damage. Even so, the eye and its surrounding structures can be damaged by injury, sometimes so severely that vision is lost, and in rare instances, the eye must be removed.
Most eye injuries are minor, but because of extensive bruising, they often look worse than they are.
Any injury to the eye should be examined by a doctor to determine whether treatment is needed and whether the eyesight may be affected permanently. Such an impact may break bones around the eye as well. If a blood vessel on the surface of the eye breaks, the surface will become red. Such bleeding is usually minor. Damage to the inside of the eye is often more serious than damage to the surface.