Eye injuries.html

EYE INJURIES

Introduction

You can treat many minor eye irritations by flushing the eye, but more serious injuries require medical attention. Injuries to the eye are the most common preventable cause of blindness, so when in doubt, err on the side of caution and call your child's doctor for help.
What to Do:
Routine Irritations
(sand, dirt, and other foreign bodies on the eye surface)

Wash your hands thoroughly before touching the eyelids to examine or flush the eye.
Do not touch, press, or rub the eye itself, and do whatever you can to keep the child from touching it (a baby can be swaddled as a preventive measure).
Do not try to remove any foreign body except by flushing, because of the risk of scratching the surface of the eye, especially the cornea.
Tilt the child's head over a basin with the affected eye down and gently pull down the lower lid, encouraging the child to open his or her eyes as wide as possible. For an infant or small child, it's helpful to have a second person hold the child's eyes open while you flush.
Gently pour a steady stream of lukewarm water (do not heat the water) from a pitcher across the eye. Sterile saline solution can also be used.
Flush for up to 15 minutes, checking the eye every 5 minutes to see if the foreign body has been flushed out.
Because a particle can scratch the cornea and cause an infection, the eye should be examined by a doctor if there continues to be any irritation afterward.
If a foreign body is not dislodged by flushing, it will probably be necessary for a trained medical professional to flush the eye.

Embedded Foreign Body
(an object penetrates the globe of the eye)

Call for emergency medical help.
Cover the affected eye. If the object is small, use an eye patch or sterile dressing. If the object is large, cover the injured eye with a small cup taped in place. The point is to keep all pressure off the globe of the eye.
Keep your child (and yourself) as calm and comfortable as possible until help arrives.

Chemical Exposure

Many chemicals, even those found around the house, can damage an eye. If your child gets a chemical in the eye and you know what it is, look on the product's container for an emergency number to call for instructions.
Flush the eye (see above) with lukewarm water for 15 to 30 minutes. If both eyes are affected, flush them in the shower.
Call for emergency medical help.

Call your local poison control (1-800-222-1222) for specific instructions. Be prepared to give the exact name of the chemical, if you have it. However, do not delay flushing the eye first.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

Black Eye

Introduction

A black eye is often a minor injury, but it can also appear when there is significant eye injury or head trauma. A visit to your child's doctor or an eye specialist may be required to rule out serious injury, particularly if you're not certain of the cause of the black eye.

Apply cold compresses intermittently: 5 to 10 minutes on, 10 to 15 minutes off. If you use ice, make sure it's covered with a towel or sock to protect the delicate skin on the eyelid. If you aren't at home when the injury occurs and there's no ice available, a cold soda will do to start.
Use cold compresses for 24 to 48 hours, then switch to applying warm compresses intermittently. This will help the body reabsorb the leakage of blood and may help reduce discoloration.
If the child is in pain, give acetaminophen - not aspirin or ibuprofen, which can increase bleeding.
Prop the child's head with an extra pillow at night, and encourage him or her to sleep on the uninjured side of his or her face (pressure can increase swelling).
Call your child's doctor, who may recommend an in-depth evaluation to rule out damage to the eye. Call immediately if any of the following symptoms are noted:

increased redness
drainage from the eye
persistent eye pain
any changes in vision
any visible abnormality of the eyeball
visible bleeding on the white part (sclera) of the eye, especially near the cornea

If the injury occurred during one of your child's routine activities such as a sport, follow up by investing in an ounce of prevention - protective goggles or unbreakable glasses are vitally important.

Reviewed by: Sharon Lehman, MD
Date reviewed: May 2004

FOREIGN OBJECT IN THE EYE

Introduction

A speck of dust, a loose eyelash, or even a contact lens can float on the white of the eye.
Usually, such objects can easily be rinsed off. However you must not touch anything that sticks to the eye, penetrates the eyeball, or rests on the colored part of the eye (iris and pupil) because this may damage the eye. Instead, make sure the person gets medical attention quickly.

Symptoms

There may be:

Blurred vision
Pain or discomfort
Redness and watering of the eye
Eyelids screwed up in spasm

Treatment

Your goal is to prevent injury to the eye.

Sit the person down facing the light,
Stand behind the person and gently separate the eyelids with your clean finger and thumb.
Ensure you examine every part of the eye, ask the person to look up, down, left and right.

If you can see an object on the white of the eye

Wash it out with clean water poured from a glass or a sterile eye-wash bath.
Incline the person ’s head towards the injured side and place a towel or pad on the shoulder.
Pour the water from the bridge of the nose allowing it to run through and flush the eye out.
If this is unsuccessful then lift the object off the white of the eye with a moist swab, the damp corner of a tissue or a clean hanky for example.
If this is still unsuccessful then seek medical help.

Objects under the upper eyelid:

Ask the person to pull the upper lid down over the lower lid.
The lower lashes may brush the object clear.

Caution:

Do not touch anything that is sticking to or embedded in the eyeball or the iris, the colored part of the eye.
Place an eye pad over the eye.
Take or send the person to hospital.