Eye injuries escalate faster than almost any other claim type: the distance between a corneal abrasion and permanent vision loss is small, and everything about how you work, drive, and live sits behind your eyesight.
Reviewed August 24, 2026 · bands map to the disclosed methodologyBased on the multiplier method used by insurers and attorneys. This is an educational estimate, not legal advice — every claim is different.
| Situation | Typical multiplier | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Corneal abrasion/foreign body, full recovery | 2–3× | Painful and frightening but typically resolves — above the floor because eyes are involved. |
| Partial permanent vision impairment | 4–5× | Any permanent visual deficit reshapes work and daily life. |
| Loss of vision in an eye | 5–7× (catastrophic) | Catastrophic tier — permanent loss of a major bodily function, with lifetime economic implications. |
These bands are the same disclosed multiplier framework used across this site (methodology) — where a specific injury lands inside it is driven by documentation, permanence, and liability clarity, not by the label on the injury.
Eyes are among the most common serious workplace injuries — and comp schedules value them explicitly (the federal reference schedule assigns an eye 160 weeks; states set their own, like North Carolina's 120). Workers' comp pays the schedule; a third-party claim (a defective tool, a subcontractor's negligence) pays full damages including pain and suffering. Most injured workers collect the first and never learn about the second.
Traumatic cataracts, glaucoma risk, and retinal complications can follow eye trauma years later. An ophthalmologist's prognosis letter converting those risks into projected care belongs in the claim before any release is signed — eye claims settled at 'current bills' value are the classic undersettlement.
Resolved corneal injuries typically support 2–3× economic damages; any permanent visual impairment moves to 4–5×; loss of vision in an eye is catastrophic-tier (5–7×) with lifetime economic damages on top. On the job, the comp schedule applies too — run both numbers.
Both may apply: comp pays regardless of fault (including its eye schedule), and a third-party claim against anyone other than your employer pays full damages. Check the equipment, the premises, and the other contractors before assuming comp is the whole claim.
Yes — the treatment, the lost work, and the recovery period are all compensable, typically at 2–3×. Just confirm with your ophthalmologist that recovery is complete before you sign anything permanent.