If you have always had 20/20 vision, you might take your ability to see almost for granted. Still, as you age, your visual acuity might naturally decline. Indeed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 12 million Americans over the age of 40 have some type of visual impairment.
You probably cannot avoid age-related degradation of your visual acuity. Being a safe and predictable driver can prevent injury-associated vision loss, however. Still, if you have vision problems after a recent car accident, you should investigate whether your vision loss might be due to your crash.
Eye injuries
Like the other parts of your body, your eyes are not immune from injury during a motor vehicle accident. If crash debris collides with one of your eyes, you might develop temporary or permanent vision loss. Moreover, the substances inside airbags can irritate your eyes, potentially causing you to lose visual acuity for days or even weeks after a crash.
Traumatic brain injuries
As you probably know, your brain receives signals from your eyes and converts them into understandable images. If you hit your head during a collision, though, you might damage the part of your brain that is responsible for vision. Sadly, visual problems that stem from a traumatic brain injury might never improve.
Accident-related vision loss is likely to affect every aspect of your life, from your job to your recreational pursuits and personal relationships. Ultimately, if you have vision loss due to your recent car accident, it may be advisable to seek financial compensation from the driver who caused the crash.