irrigation is an important step for eyecare

3. Eye irrigation is used to flush
particles and harmful chemicals
from the conjunctiva and cornea

4.  Chemical injury to the eye
 Removal of small particulate matter from the eye
 Treatment of foreign body sensation when no particulates
are visible (sometimes successful)

5.  The cornea or conjunctiva may be
mechanically abraded by the tip of the IV
tubing, by the scleral lens, or by an
irrigating stream pointed directly at the
cornea.

7.  Irrigating solution, eg, normal (0.9%) saline,
 IV tubing and IV pole
 Drainage basin and towels to collect irrigation
fluid runoff
 Face/eye protection, gloves, and gown for
operator(s)
 Local anesthetic (eg, 0.5% proparacaine eye-drops)
 Expanded pH paper or pH test strips
 Gauze pads, eyelid retractors
 Cotton-tipped applicators (swabs)
 Scleral (irrigating) lens

8.  Place the patient supine on the bed or stretcher.
 Hang bags of saline irrigation fluid several feet
above the patient’s head (proper fluid flow
depends on this height).
 Place a plastic drainage basin under the
patient’s eye to collect the irrigation fluid and
towels on the stretcher.
 An assistant may be used to retract the eyelids
during irrigation and should stand on the
opposite side of the stretcher.

10.  Patient history
 Record
 Patient comfort
 Checking pH of the eye
 Glove use

11.  Equipment
 Clean and dry work surface or
 Dressing
 Towel or waterproof cape;
 Sterile plastic undine (Fig 2) or intravenous
infusion set;
 Sterile kidney dish;
 Universal indicator strips;
 Local anesthetic drops, as prescribed according
to local policy

12.  Instil local anaesthetic eye drops.
 With the patient lying down, protect the neck and shoulders
with a towel or sheet.
 Place the bowl or kidney dish against the cheek, on the
affected side, with the head tilted sideways towards it.
 Fill the feeding cup or syringe with the irrigating fluid and
test the temperature on your hand.
 Ask the patient to fix his/her gaze ahead.
 Open the eyelids. If necessary, gently use eyelid retractors.

13.  Pour or syringe the fluid slowly and steadily, from no more
than 5 centimeters away, onto the front surface of the eye,
inside the lower eyelid and under the upper eyelid.
 If possible, Evert the upper eyelid to access all of the upper
conjunctiva fornix.
 Ask the patient to move the eye in all directions while the
irrigation is maintained.
 Check and record the visual acuity when the procedure is
finished.
 In alkali and acid burns, refer the patient to an
ophthalmologist for assessment.