Who knew a leaf could do that?

[gopherit]

I got a call at work on Friday from my kids' school. Seems ds9 had been out on the playground at recess and a kid threw leaves in the air... and one hit him in the eye.

Yes, a leaf.

No, not even the stem/pointy end (he said it just kinda "fluttered in"...) Just the .. well, LEAFY end.

The school nurse said she wanted to let me know because he appeared to have a small red "spot" in the inside corner of that eye (on the white part). SHe sized it as smaller than a pencil eraser, but larger than a pencil dot.

Well, I checked it out when he came home - the eye wasn't watering or bothering him in the least - in fact, he was rather proud of it, because he had found that, if he looked to the side and showed folks his eye, they would recoil in instant horror (to a 9 yr old boy, that is "way cool".)

It had apparently decided to expand to about the size of a full (if not 2) pencil eraser heads.

Doc said not to worry about it since it was in the white and didn't come with blunt force trauma or anything, and to just keep an "eye" on it (haha).... I looked around on the 'net and it basically said same thing, and added that it might turn yellow and green before it disappeared completely...

Yup, today it's looking kinda greenish and is reduced in size. Ewwwwww.

All those years of playing in the leaves, never knew that could be done... al from a leaf. The things my kids teach me, I swear. One thing I already know, though - He's darn lucky it was the corner of his eye, in the "white" part - I've had scratches on my cornea before and they are PAINFUL. Plus, the greater risk of damage, too.

He's still milking this thing for the shock-factor, of course. I'll be glad when it's all healed up!

[dianeschlicht]

LOL, different kind of "shiner" for him to display! That is basically what it is too...a bruise on the schlera of the eye. It will probably be gone in a day or two.

[AFMom]

That's one of those things you never thought you'd be talking about .... or saying... it's up there with "get that plastic army guy out of your nose!"..... I've also been amazed at the numerous and ingeneous ways my kids have been able to hurt themselves..... It's almost as if the more padding they've required on the playground equipment the more experimental the kids have become!

[jnrrt]

Gopherit, we once had to race to urgent care because of a leaf, and it was for my dh! He was sweeping the leaves off the porch, and one flew up and the spiny part stuck in his eye. We felt really stupid, "Hello, my husband has a leaf stuck in his eye. Yes, it was a terrible sweeping accident. These things are so tragic", and when we got there, they took it out with, duh da da da! a Q-tip and saline. I have that at home. And it's a heck of a lot cheaper than the $140 they charged us. Aaargghh. And dh got to feel stupid too.

Sooo, I guess what we're saying is that the world is far more dangerous than it appears to be. Don't just let your kids play in leaves - it's like playing with a loaded handgun! Oh, wait, I threw my baby in them yesterday. Nevermind.

[cobbler]

I have never had eye/leaf trauma like that but I have been hurt by the leaves when playing with the kids.

Hope your little guy gets better!

[Rash]

Subconjunctival hemmorhage. Basically a blood vessel broke and bled under the conjunctiva (the thin film covering the sclera, which is the white "shell" of the eye). Looks a lot worse than it is. A lot like putting some saran wrap over a drop of water on a table - spreads out, looks like there's more than there is. Real common. You can get it just from coughing or lifting something heavy. In a few weeks, I'll start to see them from Christmas trees. And corneal abrasions. Those trees are dangerous when hanging the ornaments - be careful. Corneal abrasions are very painful and can potentially scar the cornea and reduce vison permanently. Be glad the leaf hit his conjunctiva and not his cornea.

The bill's in the mail.

Back to my whirlwind of a life. I think I'm buying a Mustang instead of an Acura - I need some fun.

[cruise-o-matic]

Back to my whirlwind of a life. I think 'm buying a Mustang instead of an Acura - I need some fun.

Hold out for the Shelby....BTW, drove past Ceiner-Woods Ford in Kernersville today...They had a red Ford GT (http://www.fordvehicles.com/fordgt/home.asp) on the lot....about $150K and goes 200mph...

But, I doubt the Mare of the family will let you have that or the Shelby....post a pic when you get one. I'll send you a flier to our show in Burlington next June.....

[gopherit]

Corneal abrasions are very paiful and can potential scar the cornea. and reduce vison permanently. Be glad the leaf hit his conjunctiva and not his cornea.

I second that - I've had a few of those and they are VERY painful. DBil once got one when my niece (then age 3) went up to him as he was napping and said, "Daddy, you awake?" and proceeded to pry open his eye and poke it!

You can bet he was awake THEN...


The bill's in the mail.


Great. I needed something to write my grocery list on....


I think 'm buying a Mustang instead of an Acura...

You're all about equine, ain't ya....


(But really - Thanks for the info, O Mighty Sage of the Ocular! :goodvibes )

[Rash]

You're all about equine, ain't ya....

:ROTFL: :ROTFL: :ROTFL: That's funny! I didn't even make that connection. It's fate that I buy the Mustang!

[lllovell]

pppfftttt Don't you buy one of those make believe Shelby Cobras!!! Get yourself a real one (aren't you too young for a mid-life crisis? I guess if gohperit's son can reach that surly age at 11, we can give you a mid-life crisis pass :Pokepoke: )

Just wait until you get that bill gopherit. Its amazing what a horse can do with an oversized crayola crayon. :beaniepro

Hope your son's eye is doing better! Mine that has the shiner is finally fading so that people aren't giving me the "what did you do to that child?" look...especially after he runs across a perfectly level, unobstructed floor and falls down while coming to hug me hello. poor kid!

Laura

[cruise-o-matic]

pppfftttt Don't you buy one of those make believe Shelby Cobras!!! Get yourself a real one (aren't you too young for a mid-life crisis? I guess if gohperit's son can reach that surly age at 11, we can give you a mid-life crisis pass :Pokepoke: )
Laura

Check out the "new" Shelby Mustangs (http://www.autobytel.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/576) ....oooh-LA-LA....or whinnie-SNORT-SNORT in equine speak