For those who think that most common auto accident injuries are related to the back or neck, it might seem strange when doctors use a series of eye or vision tests to try to determine how seriously a car accident victim has been hurt. Actually, a range of vision tests are very relevant to many of the injuries that occur in a collision between vehicles. These tests have to do with the ways that the spinal column and surrounding tissues interact with nerves that control other parts of the body.
After the Car Accidents, it is essential to pass the eye test. The working of the eyes should be stable to provide the benefits. If there is any problem or failure in examination, then there is requirement to file the lawsuit. The person liable for the damage has to pay the compensation to the victim.
The Cranial Nerves
When doctors evaluate a patient after an auto accident, they will often consider the condition of the various cranial nerves in the body. Two of these are the Cranial Nerve II or Optic Nerve, which has to do with sight, and the Cranial Nerve I or Olfactory Nerve, which has to do with smell.
In addition, the Cranial Nerve III, also called the Oculomotor Nerve, and the Cranial Nerve IV or Trochlear Nerve, control some of the movements of the eye and the eyelid: other successive cranial nerves also control other related body responses.
How Medical Professionals Look for Cranial Nerve Damage at the Accident Scene
In many cases, the evaluation of the person’s eye movement starts directly after an accident. Medical professionals and experts recommend quick transport to the ER for any person whose pupils are different sizes after an accident impact, as this signals some kinds of critical and severe damage to the central nervous system.
In addition to the assessment of the pupil sizes, doctors might do a range of tests that seem very much like the kinds of sobriety testing that police officers do at a traffic stop. One of these is a test where the doctor follows eye movement while the patient focuses on an object that moves from a peripheral position to a point straight in front of him or her. This helps to show whether the Optic Nerve is in good working order. Doctors may also ask patients to blink, swallow or stick out their tongues, or perform other simple tasks in order to ensure that nerves have not been severely damaged.
Other Kinds of Post-accident Testing
Optical evaluation is not the only way to evaluate a patient’s status after a car accident. Doctors might also use reflex tests on the limbs or other areas of the body to determine whether nerve systems are intact and functioning well. Doctors might look for damage to tissues, bones, nerves or muscles that manifest themselves in various ways, including drastic changes in pain levels or any kind of numbness or paralysis. These kinds of relatively simple physical tests are part of a complex method for trying to actually determine the extent of a car accident victim’s injuries and diagnose any problems that may exist, or others that may come up down the road. Not all car accident injuries present themselves right away, and that’s why it’s important to seek advice from experienced professionals who can look beyond the obvious signs of injury to actively figure out the patient’s true condition.
