I had a very old, tall cedar tree that went down this weekend. It partially landed on a wonderful 15 to 20 foot tall oak and bent it in a "U". So, I really needed to stress relieve the oak to save it. The cedar had branches up to about 6 inches and several of them were holding down the oak. So, I cut the cedar branches short to make steps up the 40 degree trunk in the rain and worked my way up the trunk cutting side branches as I went. I worked from the top of the oak down toward the trunk. The last large branch was cut about 2/3rds. of the way thru when it broke under tension and kicked me in the face and eye. At 53, I maintained my balance and kept my grip on a 3' bar chainsaw and only swore a couple of times. Did not want to look, wanted to finish so my kid and I got all the branches off the oak and it stood back up! Then she saw my face and told me my eye was bleeding!
So warm rag and mirror, eye was not bleeding but did have a nasty hematoma and some surface swelling on one side. The girls and my wife made me go the the ER on Sunday night, it was late by the time we got there. They confirmed what I thought, gave me antibiotic drops and sent me home. Yesterday I followed up with the doc I trust, opthomologist that treats my glaucoma. He confirmed no foreign bodies and only a bunch of scratches.
Got lucky, this time. I have had a wire from a wire wheel in my eyeball before, I could tell this did not penetrate as there was no pain. I had safety glasses on, but can't wear the full face shield and work in a tree as it badly distorts my field of view and affects my balance. Part of the problem with being near sighted at 20/850 and having astigmatisms.
I am very thankful that it was not worse!