KDVMA | Unhealed eye injury

Unhealed eye injury

Unhealed eye injury refers to an eye injury that has not fully healed or resolved, resulting in ongoing symptoms or complications. It can occur due to various factors, such as inadequate initial treatment, delayed medical intervention, or the nature of the injury itself. The healing process in the eye can be complex and may require prompt and appropriate management to ensure proper recovery.

Causes of unhealed eye injury

Severe trauma to the eye, such as from accidents, falls, or sports-related injuries.
Penetrating injuries, where a foreign object enters the eye.
Chemical or thermal burns to the eye.
Inadequate or delayed medical treatment following an initial eye injury.
Underlying medical conditions that impede the healing process, such as autoimmune diseases or certain medications.

Symptoms of unhealed eye injury

Persistent pain or discomfort in the affected eye.
Blurred or decreased vision.
Sensitivity to light (photophobia).
Redness or swelling of the eye.
Discharge from the eye.
Foreign body sensation or the feeling that something is in the eye.
Abnormal tearing or dryness of the eye.
Changes in eye movement or alignment.

Diagnosis of unhealed eye injury

Comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist, including visual acuity test, slit-lamp examination, and evaluation of the structures of the eye.
Detailed assessment of the patient's medical history, including the nature and timeline of the initial injury.
Imaging tests, such as ocular ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan, to assess the extent of the injury and identify any associated complications.
Assessment of the healing process, including the presence of any scarring, inflammation, or infection.
Evaluation of visual function and potential visual deficits caused by the unhealed eye injury.
Collaboration with other specialists, such as an ocular plastic surgeon or cornea specialist, if specialized interventions or surgical procedures are required for optimal healing.

Description	Percentage
Evaluate on the basis of either visual impairment due to the particular condition or on incapacitating episodes, whichever results in a higher evaluation. With documented incapacitating episodes requiring 7 or more treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months	60

Description	Percentage
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 5 but less than 7 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months	40

Description	Percentage
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months	20

Description	Percentage
With documented incapacitating episodes requiring at least 1 but less than 3 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months	10

Description	Percentage
With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with six or more characteristics of disfigurement	80

Description	Percentage
With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of two features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with four or five characteristics of disfigurement	50

Description	Percentage
With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of one feature or paired set of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with two or three characteristics of disfigurement	30

Description	Percentage
With one characteristic of disfigurement	10

Note (1): The 8 characteristics of disfigurement, for purposes of evaluation under §4.118, are:

Scar 5 or more inches (13 or more cm.) in length. Scar at least one-quarter inch (0.6 cm.) wide at widest part.

Surface contour of scar elevated or depressed on palpation.

Scar adherent to underlying tissue.

Skin hypo-or hyper-pigmented in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).

Skin texture abnormal (irregular, atrophic, shiny, scaly, etc.) in

an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).

Underlying soft tissue missing in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).

Skin indurated and inflexible in an area exceeding six square inches (39 sq. cm.).

Note (2): Rate tissue loss of the auricle under DC 6207 (loss of auricle) and anatomical loss of the eye under DC 6061 (anatomical loss of both eyes) or DC 6063 (anatomical loss of one eye), as appropriate.

Note (3): Take into consideration unretouched color photographs when evaluating under these criteria.

Note (4): Separately evaluate disabling effects other than disfigurement that are associated with individual scar(s) of the head, face, or neck, such as pain, instability, and residuals of associated muscle or nerve injury, under the appropriate diagnostic code(s) and apply § 4.25 to combine the evaluation(s) with the evaluation assigned under this diagnostic code.

Note (5): The characteristic(s) of disfigurement may be caused by one scar or by multiple scars; the characteristic(s) required to assign a particular evaluation need not be caused by a single scar in order to assign that evaluation.

Description	Percentage
With visible or palpable tissue loss and either gross distortion or asymmetry of three or more features or paired sets of features (nose, chin, forehead, eyes (including eyelids), ears (auricles), cheeks, lips), or; with six or more characteristics of disfigurement	80

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