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Eye Injuries

Condition
Our head is designed to protect the eyes from injury as they are positioned in a protective socket and the eyelids close at high speed to form a barrier to foreign objects. This is why the eyes often escape serious injury.

However, injury may damage the eye so severely that eyesight is lost and in extreme cases the eye has to be removed. Most eye injuries are minor but often look worse because of the extensive bruising. If there is any doubt about an eye injury medical assistance should be obtained.

There are a number of main types of injuries that can occur, these are scratches and blows to the eye and socket, burns and chemical burns.

In the case of burns then if the eyelids have closed fast enough to protect them from heat it maybe that the lids are the only part affected. If the eyes have been exposed to extreme heat then this can burn the eyeball itself and affect all the structures within it.

Chemicals can burn or irritate the eye in the same way as heat as well as cause damage to all the structures in the eye, depending on the type of chemical and the severity of the exposure to it.

Recognition
If the eye has been injured there are a number of symptoms to look out for, these include; bruising of the eyelid and the surrounding areas - known as a 'black eye', redness of the conjunctiva or any visible part of the eye, swelling, the person seeing floating shapes or flashes of light, blood in the eye, change in shape of the pupil, blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light, and a feeling that there is something in the eye as well as a burning sensation.

Graphic

• Bruising – black eye
• Redness of conjunctiva
• Swelling around the eye
• Floating shapes or flashes of light
• Blood
• Pupil shape change
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Burning sensation

Action
Knowing what to do for an eye emergency can save valuable time and possibly prevent vision loss. Here are some instructions for basic eye injury first aid.

In all cases of eye contact with chemicals you should immediately flush the eye with water or any other drinkable liquid. Hold the eye under a tap or pour water into the eye using a clean container. Make sure that you keep the eye wide open while flushing and continue doing this for at least 15 minutes.

Do not use an eyecup and if a contact lens is in the eye, begin flushing over the lens immediately as this may wash away the lens. Do not bandage the eye and get immediate medical treatment after flushing.

If someone has specks in their eye then don not rub it, instead let the tears wash the speck or use an eyewash. Lifting the upper lid outwards and down over the lower eye will help. In the event that the speck does not wash out bandage the eye closed and get medical help. Where there has been a blows to the Eye apply a cold compress without putting pressure on the eye.

Cuts and Punctures of the Eye require that you do not wash the eye with any liquid and do not try to remove any foreign object. Protect the eye by covering with a shield without applying any pressure and seek immediate medical help.

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