ophthalmic emergency
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Definition
Eye emergencies include cuts,
,burnsscratches, objects in the eye,
chemical exposure, and blunt injuries to
the eye or eyelid. Since the eye is easilydamaged, any of these conditions can
lead to vision loss if left untreated.
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Considerations
It is important to get medical attention for allsignificant eye or eyelid injuries and problems.
An injury to the eyelid may be a sign of severe
injury to the eye itself. Many eye problems
(such as a painful red eye) that are not due toinjury still need urgent medical attention.
A chemical injury to the eye can be caused by a
work-related accident or by common householdproducts, such as cleaning solutions, garden
chemicals, solvents, or many other types of
chemicals. Fumes and aerosols can also cause
chemical burns
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With acid burns, the haze on the cornea often clears
with a good chance of recovery. However, alkaline
substances -- such as lime, lye, commercial drain
cleaners, and sodium hydroxide found in refrigeration
equipment -- may cause permanent damage to the
cornea. Ongoing damage may occur in spite of prompt
treatment. It is important to flush the eye with cleanwater or saline while seeking urgent medical care.
Dust, sand, and other debris can easily enter the eye.
Persistent pain and redness indicate that professional
treatment is needed. A foreign body may threaten yourvision if the object enters the eye itself or damages the
cornea or lens. Foreign bodies propelled at high speed
by machining, grinding, or hammering metal on metal
present the highest risk.
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A black eye is usually caused by direct trauma to
the eye or face. Certain types of skull fractures canresult in bruising around the eyes, even without
direct trauma to the eye. The bruise is caused by
bleeding under the skin. The tissue surrounding
the eye turns black and blue, gradually becomingpurple, green, and yellow over several days. The
abnormal coloring disappears within 2 weeks.
Usually, swelling of the eyelid and tissue around
the eye also occurs.
Occasionally, serious damage to the eye itself
occurs from the pressure of the swollen tissue.
Bleeding inside the eye can reduce vision, cause
glaucoma, or damage the cornea.
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Causes
Head injury
Foreign object in the eye
Chemical injury
Blow to the eye
Eyelid and eye cuts
Conjunctivitis
Glaucoma
Orbital cellulitis
Iritis
Corneal abrasion
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Symptoms
Eye pain
Loss of vision
Decreased vision
Double vision
Redness -- bloodshot appearance
Sensitivity to light
Bleeding
Bruising
Cuts or wounds
Headache
Itchy eyes
Pupils of unequal size
Stinging and burning
Sensation of something in the eye
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First Aid
Take prompt action and followthe steps below if you or
someone else related has an
eye-injury
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SMALLOBJECT ON THE EYE OR EYELID
The eye will often clear itself of tiny objects, like eyelashes and sand, through
blinking and tearing. If not, take these steps:
1. Tell the person not to rub the eye. Wash your hands before examining it.
2. Examine the eye in a well-lighted area. To find the object, have the
person look up and down, then side to side.
3. If you can't find the object, grasp the lower eyelid and gently pull down onit to look under the lower eyelid. To look under the upper lid, you can
place a cotton-tipped swab on the outside of the upper lid and gently flip
the lid over the cotton swab.
4. If the object is on an eyelid, try to gently flush it out with water. If that does
not work, try touching a second cotton-tipped swab to the object toremove it.
5. If the object is on the eye, try gently rinsing the eye with water. It may
help to use an eye dropper positioned above the outer corner of the eye.
DO NOT touch the eye itself with the cotton swab.
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A scratchy feeling or other minor
discomfort may continue afterremoving eyelashes and other tiny
objects. This will go away within a
day or two. If the person continuesto have discomfort or blurred
vision, get medical help.
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OBJECT STUCK OR EMBEDDED IN EYE
1. Leave the object in place. DO NOT try to removethe object. DO NOT touch it or apply any
pressure to it.
2. Calm and reassure the person.
3. Wash your hands.
4. Bandage both eyes. If the object is large, place a
paper cup or cone over the injured eye and tape
it in place. Cover the uninjured eye with gauze or
a clean cloth. If the object is small, cover botheyes with a clean cloth or sterile dressing. Even if
only one eye is affected, covering both eyes will
help prevent eye movement.
5. Get medical help immediately.
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CHEMICALS IN THE EYE
1. Flush with cool tap water immediately. Turn the
person's head so the injured eye is down and to theside. Holding the eyelid open, allow running water
from the faucet to flush the eye for 15 minutes.
2. If both eyes are affected, or if the chemicals are also
on other parts of the body, have the victim take ashower.
3. If the person is wearing contact lenses and the
lenses did not flush out from the running water, have
the person try to remove the contacts AFTER
theflushing procedure.
4. Continue to flush the eye with clean water or saline
while seeking urgent medical attention.
5. After following the above instructions, seek medical
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EYE CUTS, SCRATCHES, OR BLOWS
1. If the eyeball has been injured, get medical
help immediately.
2. Gently apply cold compresses to reduce
swelling and help stop any bleeding. DO NOT
apply pressure to control bleeding.
3. If blood is pooling in the eye, cover both of the
person's eyes with a clean cloth or sterile
dressing, and get medical help.
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EYELID CUTS
1. Carefully wash the eye. Apply a thick layerof bacitracin or mupirocin ointment on the
eyelid. Place a patch over the eye. Seek
medical help immediately.
2. If the cut is bleeding, apply gentle pressurewith a clean, dry cloth until the bleeding
subsides.
3. Rinse with water, cover with a clean
dressing, and place a cold compress onthe dressing to reduce pain and swelling.
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DO NOT
DO NOT press or rub an injured eye.DO NOT remove contact lenses unless rapid
swelling is occurring, there is a chemical injury and
the contacts did not come out with the water flush, or
you cannot get prompt medical help.DO NOT attempt to remove a foreign body that
appears to be embedded in any part of the eye. Get
medical help immediately.
DO NOT use cotton swabs, tweezers, or anything
else on the eye itself. Cotton swabs should only beused on the eyelid.
DO NOT attempt to remove an embedded object.
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When to Contact a Medical
Professional Seek emergency medical care if:
There appears to be any visible scratch, cut, or
penetration of your eyeball.
Any chemical gets into your eye.
The eye is painful and red.
Nausea accompanies the eye pain.
You have any trouble seeing (such as blurry
vision).
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Prevention
Supervise children carefully. Teach them how
to be safe.
Always wear protective eye wear when using
power tools, hammers, or other striking tools.
Always wear protective eye wear when
working with toxic chemicals.