Making an eye injury claim
Your vision has changed since the accident and you are not sure what that means for you.
An eye injury from a road accident can range from a minor scratch that heals within days to a lasting change in vision. A road accident claim treats each level of severity on its own medical merits.
This page explains how eye injuries are diagnosed and reflected in a claim.
What an eye injury involves
Glass, debris or a direct blow during a crash can cause a range of injuries. These range from a corneal abrasion to an orbital fracture around the eye socket, or deeper damage to the retina or optic nerve. Airbag deployment is another recognised cause of eye trauma in car accidents.
How it affects daily life and work
Blurred vision, sensitivity to light, or a reduced field of view can make reading, screen work and driving difficult or unsafe. This can happen long after the initial injury looks healed on the surface. Jobs requiring good depth perception or a valid driving licence are often the most affected.
The evidence and specialist report you need
An ophthalmologist’s report is central to the medical report for your claim. It should document your visual acuity, the specific diagnosis, and the outlook for further treatment or surgery. If your driving licence is affected, ask the specialist to address this directly in their report.
How it factors into your claim
Pain, suffering and loss of amenities are assessed against the Revised Compendium of Personal Injury Awards and your medical evidence, under section 28A of the Civil Law Act 1956[1]. The degree and permanence of vision loss is central to that assessment.
Where your job depends on driving or close visual work, a future earning capacity claim may also apply. This is generally available up to age 60[2]. How compensation is worked out sets out the wider framework.
Recovery and prognosis, realistically
Many eye injuries, particularly to the surface of the eye, heal well with treatment and time. Damage to the retina or optic nerve is more likely to leave some permanent change. An ophthalmologist’s honest, updated assessment is essential, rather than an early guess.
What to do next
Attend every follow-up appointment, even once your vision feels stable. Some eye conditions change slowly and need monitoring over months. The general deadline to bring a personal injury claim is six years from the accident[3]. A vision-related claim benefits from a specialist’s assessment once the picture has properly settled.
If the injury has affected your ability to work in your usual role, loss of earning capacity explains that head of loss in more detail.
Common questions
What kind of eye injuries happen in road accidents?
Common causes include glass or debris causing a corneal abrasion, a direct blow causing an orbital fracture around the eye socket, or blunt trauma damaging the retina or the eye's internal structures. Severity ranges from short-term irritation to permanent vision loss.
Does partial vision loss still count, or only complete blindness?
Partial vision loss is taken just as seriously as total loss, since even a reduced field of vision or blurred sight in one eye can genuinely affect daily life, driving and work. An ophthalmologist's report should describe the specific loss clearly.
Can an eye injury affect my driving licence?
It can, since driving eligibility depends on meeting a minimum vision standard, and this is worth discussing directly with your ophthalmologist. If your licence is affected, this is relevant both to daily life and to any effect on your ability to work.
Will my vision recover, or is this usually permanent?
It depends on the specific injury. Some corneal and soft tissue eye injuries heal well, while retinal or optic nerve damage is more likely to leave a lasting effect, which only a specialist assessment over time can confirm.
Sources
- Malaysian Bar Council Circular No. 255/2018 (Revised Compendium of Personal Injury Awards, 2018) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Skrine, The Civil Law (Amendment) Act 2019 Age limit raised from 55 to 60, in force 1 September 2019 (Act A1591) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Limitation Act 1953, s.6(1)(a) (Government of Malaysia) (accessed 2026-09-22)