Help! How to Handle Frequently Encountered Eye Injuries

Eye injuries come in many shapes and sizes, with varying degrees of severity. Some might require emergency action and immediate care by an eye care practitioner, while others can be treated at home. Read this guide to routine eye injuries, to determine the next move following an accident. Keep in mind that common sense safety precautions including wearing safety goggles or glasses may be the most effective way to keep your eyes healthy.

A corneal abrasion or scratched eye is on the more serious side. It can lead to serious harm in a short amount of time and potentially result in vision loss. Abrasions are commonly the result of a poke in the eye, or scratching the eye when there is sand in it. Since a scratch can open your eye to bacterial infection it's critical to contact your eye care practitioner or an emergency room. The best care for a corneal abrasion is to keep it loosely closed and to see your optician immediately to check it out. Rubbing the eye will only make it worse and patching the eye can give bacteria a place to grow.

It's particularly important to be aware of what steps to take if you've been sprayed in the eye by a chemical. First, you should rinse out your eye by putting your face under a strong stream of lukewarm water for about a quarter of an hour. Then contact your eye care practitioner or an urgent care clinic to hear what they suggest for such injuries. Make certain to tell the practitioner precisely which substance got into your eye and what you've done. If your eye is extremely red or blurry, go immediately to your eye doctor or an urgent care office after rinsing it with water. Exposure to chemicals in the eye can result in a variety of injuries, from minimal irritation to severe harm and potentially vision loss.

While it is sometimes unpleasant to think about an injury to the eye, it's recommended to have a plan for what to do in such emergencies. By being prepared you can feel confident that you'll be ready to handle most common eye issues. Don't forget, extra safety protections can help you avoid these injuries altogether so speak to your eye doctor about preventative eye care options!