From tears that wash away irritants to eyelids and eyelashes that keep dust, dirt, and bright light at bay – despite these natural attributes designed to protect them, the eyes are still among the most vulnerable parts of the body. Even a tiny scratch on the cornea can have devastating consequences on a person’s vision.
Eye injuries range from something as simple as soapy suds getting in the eye to serious sports eye injuries. To ensure you keep your eyesight and know what to do in case of an eye injury, here’s some information on how to spot when something is wrong with your eyes. what you can do as a first aid to prevent the situation from getting worse.
Recognizing Eye Injuries: Telltale Signs to Look for
Cases that count as injuries of the eye may not be what you think. Sometimes, you cannot even tell that your eye is injured or whether it is severe enough to warrant a trip to the eye doctor.
Among the common signs of most eye injuries are:
- Redness in or around the eye
- Burning or stinging sensation
- Light sensitivity
- Blurred vision
- Teary or watery eyes
- Swelling of the eyelids
- Discoloration in and around the eye
Certain issues can only be pinpointed by a medical professional during an examination, while some people only show signs of a problem during the latter stages of the condition.
If left untreated, eye injuries can get worse and lead to impaired vision or blindness. That said, be sure to get medical help as soon as you notice the following telltale signs of eye injury on yourself or others:
- Chronic eye pain
- Visual difficulty
- Lacerated eyelid
- Eye mobility issues
- Uneven eye positioning
- Unusual shape or size of the pupil
- Particles stuck in the eye or under the eyelid that blinking cannot remove
First Aid Treatment for the 5 Most Common Eye Injuries
Now that you know how to recognize an eye injury, the next thing you need to learn is administering the correct emergency treatment.
Here are five of the most common eye injuries and the appropriate first aid treatments to perform before you get the chance to visit an ophthalmology clinic in Dubai:
1. Particle irritation
If you notice something in your eye or observe someone experiencing minor eye irritation, you should be careful not to touch the area with unwashed hands.
After washing, flush the affected eye with water immediately. Tilt the head over a sink or basin with the eye pointed down before pulling the lower lid very gently. Then, start pouring a stream of water over the eye.
Do this for as long as 15 minutes while checking if the foreign particle has been removed every five minutes.
2. Eye scratch
Also called a corneal abrasion, this eye injury is something almost everyone has experienced at least once in their lives. Be it due to rough play, a home improvement project, or something else; a scratched eye can become very uncomfortable. It may also lead to light sensitivity and redness.
But no matter how irritating it may be, you must never rub a scratched eye.
Instead, rinse it using clean water or saline solution. Take an eyecup or a small, clean glass and rest its rim at the eye socket base just below the lower lid to flush any foreign object out.
Blinking also helps get rid of any small particles that may have been left on your eye. Pull the upper lid over the lower to help brush away any object stuck underneath your upper eyelid.
Some eye scratches can heal on their own without the need for medical attention. But if it feels too uncomfortable or if you’re worried about it affecting your vision, you can head to the nearest eye doctor or emergency room.
3. Chemical burn
Some substances that sting or burn can be fairly harmless, while those that don’t immediately cause pain could lead to a more serious eye injury in the long run. You see, chemicals involved in a chemical burn eye injury can be categorized into two: acidic and alkaline.
Most acidic substances usually cause a burning sensation and redness in the affected eye. However, it can be washed out quite easily.
On the other hand, alkaline chemicals may not seem serious because of the lack of immediate redness and pain, but they can cause more damage than acids. The most common examples of this are cleaning products and even chalk dust.
But regardless of what chemical got into your eye, be sure to flush it out with a steady stream of warm tap water for around 15 minutes. Call your eye doctor immediately or head to a nearby emergency room. Tell the medical personnel precisely the kind of substances that caused the injury and the steps you’ve taken to remedy it thus far.
Take note that if your eye seems extraordinarily blurry or red, go to the medical facility right away. Place a cool compress over the eye to lessen the pain but avoid rubbing it.
4. Eye swelling
Being stuck in the eye with a fist, a baseball, or any high-speed projectile can lead to eye swelling. If this happens, the immediate treatment is to apply a cold compress to reduce the puffiness.
Unlike what you see in TV shows or movies, it is never a good idea to use steaks or frozen peas for a black eye as they may carry bacteria that can make the situation worse. Use a sterile, cold compress instead.
Also, avoid applying pressure onto the affected eye. If you get a blackeye or experience discomfort or visual disturbance even with just a light impact, proceed to the emergency room or eye clinic right away. Even a slight blow can lead to eye injuries such as retinal detachment.
5. Eye bleeding
While this may seem serious, eye bleeding – or subconjunctival hemorrhages – only look worse than it really is.
Most eye-bleeding cases involve blood leaking from blood vessels between the conjunctiva (the clear covering of the eye) and the sclera (the white area it covers). These can often happen even from a minor eye injury and cover the entire eye or just a portion of it.
The good news is that this type of eye injury is virtually painless and will not cause vision loss, be it permanent or temporary. In fact, it will clear after several weeks without any treatment.
Take Immediate Action
Eye injuries not only vary in severity but may also require different immediate treatment. Learn what first aid to use for the right situation, take immediate action, and prevent things from getting worse.
AUTHOR BIO
Dr. Millicent M. Grim, Specialist Ophthalmologist & LASIK Specialist, is the Medical Director of Gulf Eye Center in Dubai. Since 2002, Gulf Eye Center’s highly qualified ophthalmologists and optometrists/ODs have been successfully treating a wide range of eye conditions using advanced techniques. They also provide comprehensive eye care and vision restoration procedures for people of all ages.
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