Lost Your Eye in a Work Injury?
Ohio owes you up to $160,125.
If you lost your eye — or permanently lost vision in one eye — in a workplace accident, Ohio law guarantees you a fixed cash award of up to $160,125. Chemical splashes, flying debris, welding flash — the cause doesn’t matter.
Key takeaways
- ✓Ohio BWC pays $160,125 for loss of an eye (125 weeks × $1,281/week for 2026 injuries).
- ✓This covers both physical loss of the eye and permanent loss of vision.
- ✓You can receive this award even if you returned to work.
- ✓Eye injuries may also qualify for PPD based on visual field loss or cosmetic disfigurement.
- ✓An experienced lawyer identifies every benefit you’re owed beyond the scheduled loss.
What is a scheduled loss award?
Ohio law assigns a specific dollar value to every major body part. For the loss of an eye — or permanent loss of vision in one eye — the BWC pays a fixed statutory amount.
For 2026, the eye injury award is $160,125 (125 weeks at $1,281 per week). Eye injuries from chemical exposure, flying debris, grinding sparks, or welding flash are among the most common industrial injuries.
“125 weeks” is the statutory measuring period, not the payment timeline. The Industrial Commission sets your schedule at hearing.
2026 Ohio BWC eye injury award
$160,125
125 weeks × $1,281 per week
Knowing the award amount is just the beginning.
The BWC does not hand you this money. You must file properly, present the right medical evidence, and fight for every dollar — especially for loss-of-use injuries, which the BWC disputes aggressively. That is what Mike Gruhin does. He has 49+ years of experience winning these exact cases.
Think you qualify for an eye injury award?
Mike reviews every case personally — at no charge.
Why loss-of-use claims are so difficult
Most scheduled loss claims are not amputations. They are loss-of-use claims — where you still have the body part but have permanently lost substantial function. These claims are far more complex and far more aggressively disputed by the BWC.
The BWC will argue you have not lost enough function, that the loss was pre-existing, or that you do not qualify at all. They hire their own doctors to minimize your impairment. Without an experienced lawyer building your medical and legal case, most loss-of-use claims are denied or drastically undervalued.
Mike Gruhin has spent 49+ years winning loss-of-use cases that the BWC tried to deny. He knows exactly what medical evidence is needed, which doctors to work with, and how to present your case at hearing. This is not something you can do on your own.
Other scheduled loss awards
Eye injuries in industrial settings often occur alongside other injuries. Here are related scheduled loss award values.
Don’t leave money on the table.
The BWC will never tell you about overlapping benefits. Mike identifies every one.
Why your eye injury award may be worth more than $160,125
The $160,125 is only the scheduled loss. Eye injuries often qualify for additional benefits the BWC will never mention.
PPD — visual field and cosmetic impairment
Loss of depth perception, reduced peripheral vision, and facial disfigurement from eye injuries each support separate PPD awards.
Wage loss benefits — up to 200 weeks
Many jobs require binocular vision or 20/20 corrected sight. If eye loss limits your employment options, Wage Loss covers the pay difference.
VSSR — employer safety violations
Failure to provide safety glasses, face shields, or chemical splash protection is a common safety violation that triggers 15–50% additional awards.
Additional allowed conditions
Chronic headaches, light sensitivity, depression, anxiety from disfigurement, and loss of depth perception can all be added to your claim.
Get your free eye injury case review
Tell us what happened. Mike personally responds — typically within one business day. No fee unless we win.
Why you need a lawyer for your eye injury claim
The BWC administers the system — it does not fight for your maximum recovery. It will never tell you about the PPD, wage loss, and VSSR benefits that commonly apply to eye injuries.
Employers and their insurers frequently argue that eye injuries resulted from failure to wear safety equipment — even when they failed to enforce the requirement. An experienced lawyer knows how to defeat these arguments.
Mike Gruhin identifies every available benefit and makes sure you file for all of them. 49+ years of experience. No fee unless we win.
No fee unless we win. Mike works on contingency — you pay nothing upfront, and you owe nothing unless he recovers benefits for you. The consultation is free, unlimited in time, and completely confidential.
49+ years fighting for injured workers across Ohio.
Mike has recovered millions in benefits for eye injury victims.
Frequently asked questions
Your eye injury could be worth
$160,125 — or more.
Free, unlimited-time telephone consultation. Mike personally responds. No fee unless we win.
No obligation. No upfront cost. Completely confidential.