What to Do When You Have an Eye Injury and When to Call a Doctor?

Eye problems or injuries can result from accidents, foreign objects in the eye like dirt, and chemical injuries. Such types of injuries can result in pain, swelling, redness, and various other symptoms. Many injured people also notice abnormal changes in their vision or see flashes of light. Moreover, serious injuries to the eyes can cause permanent problems like loss of vision. This article discusses common types of eye injuries and how to treat them.

Types of eye injuries

There are many types of eye injuries. Some of them are as follows:

1. Subconjunctival hemorrhage: This can be spontaneous or may accompany an eye injury. It is the collection of blood that lies on the surface of the white of the eye (sclera). The sclera is covered by conjunctiva (transparent blood vessel) that contains a membrane that lies over the sclera.
2. Chemical burns and exposures: There are several ways in which a chemical burn can occur. Many chemicals like sunscreen and tear gas are simply irritants to the eye and do not cause permanent damage. But strong acids like alkalis are highly acidic and can cause severe damage to the ocular surface.
3. Corneal abrasions: It is a traumatic defect or a scratch on the surface of the cornea. Those with corneal abrasions have often reported being “poked” in the eye by a metallic object or a toy. It can also happen if you wear a contact lens for a long time.
4. Traumatic iritis: This type of injury occurs in the same way as corneal abrasion. Iritis is the inflammation of the iris. However, this is often due to a blunt blow to the eye, e.g., an airbag in the car or from a fist.
5. Orbital blowout fractures and hyphemas: Such injuries are linked with a severe hit from a blunt object to the eye and its surrounding structures. For example, getting hit with a baseball or a squash ball in the face and eye.
6. Penetrating injuries: Such injuries are mainly seen in children or after an accident in adults. In this, the outer coat of the eye – cornea or sclera gets ruptured.

How to take care of eye injuries

Many serious complications can occur from eye injury, and these could get worse if not taken care of as soon as possible. If you are tempted to treat it by yourself, make sure you don’t:

• Attempt to remove any foreign objects stuck in your eye.
• Apply pressure to the eye.
• Rub your eyes when they are injured.
• Use medications or ointments without consulting with a doctor.
• Attempt to remove contact lenses if you have a chemical injury.

See Also: Steps to Take Care of Your Eyes Daily.

The best thing you can do in times of emergency is to get to the doctor as soon as possible.

First-aid tips for eye injuries

If sand or small particles enters the eye:

1. Use eyewash or running tap water to flush the eye out.
2. Blink several times. Blinking will allow tears to flush out the offending particle.
3. To brush the particle out with the help of the eyelashes, lift the upper eyelid over the lashes of the lower lid.

If you ever get hit in your eye:

1. Reduce the pain and swelling by applying a cold compress.
2. Contact an ophthalmologist if pain, visual disturbance, or even a black eye occurs.

If your eye gets punctured or cut:

1. Place a shield over the eye.
2. Do not take aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs as it thins the blood and may cause bleeding.
3. Do not rinse with water.
4. Get emergency help immediately.

Chemical burns in the eye:

1. Flush the eye with clean water.
2. Seek emergency medical treatment immediately.

When should you seek medical help for an eye injury?

It is highly recommended to seek immediate medical help or attention if you experience pain, redness, or swelling in the eye, especially after an injury or having a foreign object in the eye. Such issues can severely damage the eyes so much that they can lead to partial or permanent blindness.

If you have an “eye emergency” or if you’re looking for an “emergency eye hospital in Kolkata,” or " eye care hospital near me". we at Netralayam aim to provide high-quality medical services to our patients for various eye emergencies like chemical exposure, blunt injuries to the eye or eyelid, and more. Contact our medical team to book an appointment now!