Treating Eye Injuries

Signs of Eye InjuryFor the most part, it is easy to discern when something is wrong with your eye. Since they are often sensitive to irritation, the easier signs of an eye injury are easy to spot:

• Pain in or around the eye
• Trouble seeing
• Swelling or itchiness of the eye and eyelid
• Cut or tear on the eyelid
• Bleeding or bruising in or around the eye
• Something in the eye or under the eyelid which cannot be easily removed

But some symptoms are difficult for someone to notice. These signs of injury are easier for someone else to notice, since they will be able to look at your eyes directly and be able to notice any changes:

• One eye doesn’t move as well as the other
• One eye is more swollen or sticking out when compared to the other eye
• Unusual pupil sizes
• Blood or discoloration in the whites (sclera) of the eye

If you notice these symptoms in yourself or someone with these symptoms, especially after they have been hit in the head, face, or eye recently, then you need to talk about getting medical help quickly. While not all eye injuries are severe, it takes a medical professional to know when someone might need specialized treatment or medication to maintain eye health.

Treating Eye Injuries at Home

One of the most common reactions to eye irritation is to rub or scratch the eye. Sometimes we do it without even thinking about it! We get a little tickle in our eye or something feels itchy, and by instinct, we’re trying to rub the pain away. No matter what kind of eye injury you might receive, rubbing and scratching at your eye is never a good idea.Eye injuries require a medical professional’s diagnosis and treatment, but if you are unable to seek medical help immediately, then there are some steps you can take to make sure you do not worsen an eye injury before it is treated.

• No matter what kind of injury you have, do not rub, scratch, apply pressure, or put ointment on an injured eye! Any of these things could cause further irritation and swelling.
• If your eye has been cut or punctured then seek emergency care immediately. Do not rinse with water, do not remove any objects stuck in the eye, gently shield the eye while you get help, and do not take any anti-inflammatory drugs or pain killers as these can often thin the blood and make any bleeding worse.
• If something is stuck in your eye, then try to lift you upper or lower eyelid and see if your natural tears can flush the particles out. Simple eye drops can also be used, but if something cannot be removed, you need to seek medical help quickly.
• If chemicals are involved, such as chemical burns or corrosive substances being spilled on your face, then immediately flush the eye with clean water and seek medical treatment. Chemical burns can cause severe long-term damage, so even if you feel fine, you need to see a doctor to ensure your eye safety.
• If you have been hit in the eye from a fall or household accident, then gently apply a cold-compress, without applying pressure to the eye, and monitor the swelling. If swelling goes away quickly, then this might not be a severe injury, but if swelling is bad or persists, you need to seek medical care immediately.

Since there are so many different things which might cause an eye injury, it can be difficult to know what to do when someone you love suffers one. Keeping the injured eye as clean as you can, and not irritating the injury further are the highest priorities. Medical professionals will know how to treat severe eye injuries, which is why it is important that you always seek a physician’s help when an injury becomes apparent.

How to Avoid Eye Injuries

Sometimes, accidents happen, and we can’t prevent certain injuries from occurring. But, to help keep your eyes safe, there are some things you and your family can do to lower your risks of eye injuries and keep everyone safe.

• If you or your child plays sports, then make sure you have appropriate helmets and protective eye wear for all practices and games.
• When doing household chores and home improvement projects, wear protective goggles or glasses.
• When dealing with corrosive household chemicals, like bleach or any necessary pesticides, open containers pointing away from your face and do not get too close to any harsh fumes.
• Don’t stand on your toes to reach heavy objects, instead use step-stools or ladders to lower your risk of objects falling.

While not all eye injuries can be prevented, taking these steps will reduce your family’s risk of eye injuries. Especially as the holidays come around, and we put up decorations or start fall sports season, it is important to remember how much we need to keep our eye properly protected. In the case of any eye emergencies, Wylie ER is open 24/7 with concierge-level emergency care. On the weekends, or at night, when your primary care physician’s office might be closed, our facility is here with no wait time and board-certified doctors to make sure you and your family are safe and healthy all year round.

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This blog is written by Maggie Berardo, content writer at Nutex Health.Nutex Health, Inc supports you and your family’s health. You can depend on Wylie Emergency Room or any one of our concierge-level, freestanding emergency facilities to deliver the emergency care you deserve, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.]]>