There are many causes of eye injuries. These include:
A physical blow to the eye, or a
blast exposure, such as from a firecracker.
Harsh chemicals like lye, bleach, and
acids, which can burn eye tissue and permanently damage the eyes
A grain of sand, fleck of paint, sliver of
metal, or splinter of wood, which can scratch the cornea and induce infection
Excessive exposure to the sun, very low
humidity, or a strong wind, which may dry the eyes so much they feel like sandpaper
rubbing against your lids
Insect bites
Exposure to bright sunlight, tanning-booth
light, or welder's arc
Scratches from contact lenses
Prevention
Wear safety glasses during
any job or activity that exposes your eyes to sawdust, metal flecks, etc.
Be careful when using harsh chemicals. Wear
rubber gloves and protective glasses. Don't rub your eyes if you've touched harsh
chemicals. Wash your hands. Turn your head away from chemical vapors so as not to let any
get into your eyes.
Don't allow a child to stick his or her
head out of the window of a moving vehicle. Sand, insects, and other flying objects can
strike the eye and irritate or damage the cornea.
Avoid alcohol, use a humidifier, and limit
exposure to smoke, dust, and wind to help prevent dry eyes.
Use artificial tear drops with your
doctor's okay.
Never stare directly at the sun, especially
during a solar eclipse.
Wear sunglasses that block UV rays anytime
you're in the sun or in a tanning booth.
All eye injuries should be taken seriously. All should be checked by a physician.
| Is there a foreign body sticking into the eye? {Note: See First Aid for Foreign Body Sticking into the Eye under Self-Care Tips below.}  |
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| Is there a severe blow to the eye, with or without a broken bone
of the face? |
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| Is there a cut to the eye or eyelid? |
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| Have harmful chemicals gotten into the eye(s)? {Note: Before emergency care flush the eyes with water immediately! See First Aid for Harmful Chemicals in the Eye(s) under Self-Care Tips below.} |
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Has a bee sting or insect bite to the eye caused a severe allergic
reaction with any of these symptoms? Wheezing, shortness of breath, and
breathing difficulties Severe swelling in the eye and in other
parts of the body such as the tongue, lips, throat Bluish lips and skin Collapse{Note: Give shot from and follow other instructions in emergency insect sting kit, if available.} |
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| Do any of these problems occur after an eye injury? Blurred or double vision Blood in the pupil |
|
| Is eye pain present? |
 |
First Aid for Foreign Body Sticking into the Eye
Do not try to remove
the object.
Do not press on, touch, or rub the eye(s).
Cover the affected eye with a paper cup or
other clean object that will not touch the eye or the foreign object. Hold the paper cup
in place with tape without putting pressure on the eye or the foreign object.
Gently cover unaffected eye as well with a
clean bandage and tape. This will help to keep the affected eye from moving.
First Aid for Harmful Chemicals in the Eye(s)
Flush the eye(s) with water immediately!
Hold the affected eye open
with your thumb and forefinger.
Using a pitcher or other clean container,
pour large amounts of water over the entire eye. Start at the inside corner and pour
downward to the outside corner. This lets the water drain away from the body and keeps it
from getting in the other eye. Keep pouring the water for 10 to 30 or more minutes. It is
best to flush the eye with water until you get medical help.
Loosely bandage the eye with sterile cloth
and tape. Do not touch the eye.
If both eyes are affected, pour water over
both eyes at the same time or quickly alternate the above procedure from one eye to
another.
Or, place the victim's face in a sink or
container filled with warm water. Tell the victim to keep his or her eyes open and to come
out of the water at intervals so he or she can breathe. Do this procedure on yourself if
you are the victim and are alone.
To Remove a Foreign Object in the Eye:
Wash your hands.
Twist a piece of tissue, moisten the tip
with tap water (not saliva) and gently try to touch the speck with the tip. Carefully pass
the tissue over the speck, which should cling to the tip.
If the foreign object is under the upper
lid, have the person look down and pull the upper lid away from the eyeball by gently
grabbing the eyelashes. Press a cotton-tipped swab down on the skin surface of the upper
eyelid and pull the upper eyelid up and toward the brow. The upper lid will invert. Touch
and remove the debris with the tip of the tissue.
Do not rub the eye. And never use
tweezers or anything sharp to remove a foreign object. Doing so can scratch the cornea.
Gently wash the eye with cool water.
To Treat a Black Eye from a Minor Injury:
Put a cold compress over the injured
area right away.
Take an over-the-counter medicine for the
pain and inflammation. Acetaminophen will help the pain, but not the inflammation. {Note:
See Pain relievers in "Your Home
Pharmacy".}
Later, put a warm compress over the injured
area.
Seek medical attention if these measures do
not help.
To Ease the Discomfort of Dry Eyes:
Try an over-the-counter
artificial tear product such as Ocu-Lube, Refresh or Liquifilm. Check the label. If there
are no preservatives, keep the solution refrigerated. Always wash your hands before
putting drops in the eyes.
To Treat an Insect Bite Without a Severe
Allergic Reaction:
Gently wash the eye(s) with
warm water.
Call the victim's doctor and ask if an
antihistamine should be taken. Have the doctor recommend one. Tell the doctor what has
happened and ask if anything else should be done.
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 04/21/99