Rules for Treating Eye Injuries
General Eye Safety Rules
- Call the doctor any time the eye is injured
- Wash your hands before touching the eye
- Do not press on an injured eye or rub it
- Do not use dry cotton swabs or sharp tools around the eye, e.g., tweezers
- Keep the injured area clean and covered
When to Call the Doctor
- Any time the eye is injured — immediately if the injury is serious
- Any time chemicals get in the eye
- Any time the cornea is scratched
- Any time redness, swelling or pain will not go away
- Any time there is decreased vision
Foreign Body
- If tiny specks of dust, sand or fuzz get in the eye it can cause pain and redness
- Sometimes blinking will help clear the eye
- Do not remove the object if it is resting on the cornea
- Do not rub the eye
- Wash your hands before touching the eye
- Look for the object. Have the person look up and down and side to side
- If you can’t see it, gently pull down on the lower lid and then up on the upper lid to try to find it
- If you find it, keep the eye open while you gently flush it out with water
- If the object does not come out, cover they eye with a clean cloth and see a doctor
- If the object comes out but the person has cloudy vision, or if pain or redness do not go away, go to the doctor
Object Stuck in the Eye
- Do not put any pressure on the eye
- DO NOT remove any object that is stuck in the eye
- Place a paper cup over the eye and tape it in place
Chemical Burns
- Many household products and sprays can cause eye injuries. The eye should be immediately irrigated with water
- Turn the person’s head so the eye is facing down and to the side
- Flush eye from bridge of nose to outer edge of eye with running water for at least 15 minutes. Keep the eye open. This may be painful
- After the eyes are rinsed, take out contact lenses
- Have the eye doctor examine the eye
Blows to the Eye — Black eye
- A black eye is usually caused by a direct blow to the face, such as in a sports injury, an accident or a fight
- Gently cover the eye with a cool washcloth or ice wrapped in a towel
- Do not press on it
- If the eye is bleeding, see a doctor right away
- If the skin is deeply cut, stitches may be needed
- If there is double vision, the eye looks smaller or if there is facial deformity see a doctor
