How Much Compensation for an Eye Injury at Work?

If you suffered an eye injury while working which wasn’t your fault, you may be eligible to make an eye injury at work compensation claim. In this guide, we detail when and how you can make a claim, as well as how much compensation for an eye injury at work you could be entitled to.

Eye injuries in the workplace can range from mild corneal abrasions and eye strain to severe penetrating injuries causing loss of vision. The amount of compensation awarded for an eye injury will reflect its type and severity, and any financial losses and expenses it has caused.

To find out if you are eligible and how much you could claim for your eye injury, please call 0800 470 0474 for a free case assessment or request a call back.

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Table of Contents

• Am I eligible to claim compensation for an eye injury at work?
• What types of eye injuries could you suffer at work?
• How is compensation for a workplace eye injury calculated?
• What special damages can be included in a claim for an eye injury at work?
• What general damages does a workplace eye injury cover?
• Examples of eye injury at work compensation awards
• How much compensation could I receive if I were partially at fault for an eye injury at work?
• What is an employer's duty of care to prevent eye injuries in the workplace?
• What workplace accidents could lead to an eye injury claim?
• What should I do if I sustain an eye injury at work?
• What evidence can I use to support an eye injury compensation claim?
• What is the time limit to make an eye injury at work claim?
• Contact us to find out how much compensation for an eye injury at work you could receive!

Am I eligible to claim compensation for an eye injury at work?

If you suffered an eye injury at work, you may be wondering if you are entitled to compensation. The good news is that a personal injury solicitor can quickly confirm if you have grounds for a claim during a free consultation over the phone. They will verify whether:

• Your employer owed you a legal duty of care.
• They breached this duty and caused an accident or unsafe work conditions.
• You suffered an eye injury as a direct result of their negligence.
• You are within the legal time limit for starting a claim, which is typically three years.

If your case meets these criteria, you will be able to proceed with an accident at work claim and seek compensation for your workplace eye injury.

What types of eye injuries could you suffer at work?

Eye injuries at work are unfortunately not a rare occurrence. In 2024 alone, there were over 57,000 emergency hospital visits related to workplace eye injuries. Furthermore, one in eight industrial workers experiences frequent eye injuries or strain.

A lack of adequate safety measures in the workplace can result in various types of eye injuries, including:

• Eye strain from long hours spent in front of a computer.
• Corneal abrasions from small particles such as dust and tiny bits of metal that scratch the surface of the eye.
• Penetrating injuries from splinters, wood slivers, metal or nails that pierce the eye.
• Chemical burns from solvents, adhesives, cleaning agents and other chemicals splashed into the eye.
• Eye socket fractures from falling objects, contact with moving parts of machinery or falls.
• Cataracts and macular degeneration caused by UV radiation from welding arcs, lasers or prolonged sun exposure.
• Partial or complete blindness from penetrating injuries, chemical burns, head injuries or retinal detachment.

The type and severity of your eye injury will determine how much compensation you are entitled to claim from your employer.

How is compensation for a workplace eye injury calculated?

The amount of compensation you could receive for an eye injury claim depends on both the financial impact of your injury (special damages) and the level of pain and suffering you have experienced (general damages).

• Special damages are based on various types of financial documents such as receipts, pay slips, invoices, and bank statements. They include both past losses, like prescriptions and loss of earnings during recovery, as well as future care needs and impact on earning capacity.
• General damages take into account the severity of the injury and its long-term impact on your life. It covers pain, suffering and loss of amenity and care based on the compensation brackets provided by the Judicial College guidelines.

Below, we take a closer look at the damages you can include in your personal injury claim and the compensation you could receive for an eye injury at work.

What special damages can be included in a claim for an eye injury at work?

Special damages for an eye injury at work cover direct financial losses and expenses incurred because of the injury, both past and future. These can include:

• Expenses for medical treatment such as specialist consultations, eye surgery and prescriptions.
• The cost of glasses, contact lenses or other specialised eye equipment you may need.
• The income you have lost during recovery, which can include lost bonuses and promotions.
• Loss of or reduced earning capacity in the future.
• The cost of travel to and from medical appointments.
• The cost of care and assistance with daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning or shopping.
• The cost of modifications to your home or vehicle to accommodate your injury.
• Childcare costs, if your injury is preventing you from looking after your children.
• Costs for counselling, if you also suffered a psychological injury, such as anxiety or depression.

What general damages does a workplace eye injury cover?

General damages in an eye injury at work compensation claim cover subjective, intangible losses that depend on the injury’s severity, such as:

• Physical pain and discomfort.
• The emotional distress caused by the injury.
• The loss of enjoyment of life.
• The impact on your ability to participate in hobbies and daily activities.
• Scarring and disfigurement.
• The disability caused by partial or total loss of vision.

Examples of eye injury at work compensation awards

As discussed above, compensation for eye injuries at work is calculated by taking into account the pain and suffering caused by the injury as well as the related financial expenses.

The compensation payment for special damages is the easiest to calculate. This is done by summing up all your losses based on receipts, invoices, payslips and other financial documents.

The compensation for general damages is based on the Judicial College guidelines and depends on the type and severity of the injury. Examples of compensation awards for a workplace eye injury include:

• £2,690 to £4,820 for minor eye injuries like corneal abrasions with recovery within weeks.
• £4,820 to £10,660 for moderate injuries that have a temporary effect on vision.
• £11,120 to £25,600 for eye injuries at work that have a relatively mild impact on vision, such as sensitivity to light.
• £28,090 to £48,040 for more severe injuries with some degree of vision loss in one eye.
• £60,130 to £66,920 for loss of sight in one eye.
•  £66,920 to £80,210 for the total loss of one eye.
• £78,040 to £129,330 for loss of vision in one eye and impaired vision in the other.
• Up to £327,940 for complete blindness.

How much compensation could I receive if I were partially at fault for an eye injury at work?

Even if you are partially at fault for your injury, you may still be eligible to make an eye injury claim. However, due to your contributory negligence, your compensation payment will be reduced by a percentage to reflect your degree of fault.

For example, let’s say you suffered partial loss of vision in one eye, and your claim is valued at £80,000. If you are found to be 25% to blame for the injury, your compensation would be reduced to £60,000.

Examples of contributory negligence in workplace eye injury compensation claims include:

• Failing to wear the provided personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ignoring safety procedures and training.
• Engaging in horseplay and reckless behaviour.
• Ignoring warning signs.

What is an employer’s duty of care to prevent eye injuries in the workplace?

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers owe their employees a legal duty of care. This means they must take all reasonable measures to prevent accidents and eye injuries, including:

• Conduct risk assessments to identify hazards.
• Take steps to eliminate or minimise hazards.
• Provide adequate eye protection, such as goggles, face shields and safety glasses.
• Train employees on how to do their jobs safely and the use of PPE.
• Promote regular eye exams for employees at risk.
• Ensure all tools and machinery are regularly maintained and safe to use.
• Store and handle hazardous chemicals safely.

According to the NHS, 90% of all eye injuries at work could be prevented through adequate education, training and safety equipment. If your employer fails to protect your health and safety, a specialist solicitor can help you make an eye injury at work claim for compensation.

What workplace accidents could lead to an eye injury claim?

Claims for eye injuries at work could be the result of various types of accidents, including:

• Slips, trips and falls leading to blunt force trauma to the eye area or direct contact with objects.
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals such as acids and solvents without adequate protection.
• Being struck by flying debris or falling objects.
• Exposure to lasers or welding arcs without adequate safety measures.
• Machinery accidents caused by a lack of adequate inspections and maintenance.
• Poor ergonomics in office settings and inadequate rest breaks.
• Workplace assaults that involve direct blows to the eye, with or without a weapon.

What should I do if I sustain an eye injury at work?

There are a few steps you should take if you suffer an eye injury at work:

• Avoid touching or rubbing your eye and seek prompt medical care to have your injury diagnosed and treated.
• Report the occurrence to your employer and make sure they record it in the company’s accident book.
• Take photos or videos of any hazards that contributed to the injury.
• If there were any witnesses, ask for their names and contact details.
• Keep a diary of your symptoms, the impact on your life and documents related to financial losses and expenses.
• Contact a personal injury solicitor for free legal advice to find out if you could claim compensation.

What evidence can I use to support an eye injury compensation claim?

If you’ve suffered an eye injury at work, here are some examples of evidence you could potentially use to support a claim:

• Medical records detailing your injury and prognosis.
• A medical report from an independent ophthalmologist.
• A copy of an accident report filed with your employer.
• Police reports if the authorities were involved.
• Visual evidence of the accident, such as photos, videos or CCTV footage.
• Pictures of any visible injuries.
• Witness statements and your own testimony about how you were injured.
• Training and maintenance records from your employer.
• Proof of financial losses and expenses, such as receipts and invoices.

What is the time limit to make an eye injury at work claim?

Generally, the time limit for claiming eye injury at work compensation is three years, starting from the date of your accident. For injuries developing over time, the three-year limitation date begins from when the injury is diagnosed and linked to workplace negligence.

The personal injury time limit is established under the Limitation Act 1980, which provides the following exceptions:

• The three-year limitation date does not apply if the injured party is mentally incapacitated.
• There is a two-year time limit to claim for a workplace assault through the CICA.
• If you were under 18 at the time of injury, the three-year limitation date only begins when you turn 18.

Contact us to find out how much compensation for an eye injury at work you could receive!

If you suffered a workplace eye injury, a personal injury solicitor can let you know within minutes if you are entitled to make a compensation claim. If you can proceed, they will offer you a no win no fee agreement, explain your rights and guide you through the eye injury claims process.

To find out if you have a valid claim and how much compensation you could receive for an eye injury at work, call 0800 470 0474 today or request a call back for a free case assessment.

Last edited on 7th Oct 2025

With over 15 years’ experience in the legal sector, Nicholas Tate (LLB Hons, LLM in Health Law) has extensive experience across all areas of personal injury and medical negligence claims.