Eye Injuries and First Aid Response

1. Eye Injuries
and First Aid Response
“We measure safety performance
by the number of incidents.
But let’s be clear…
it’s really not about incident rates…
it’s about people.
People who have faces, names,
families, hopes, and dreams.”

2. Primary Eye Care OD-104
Sahibzada Hakim Anjum Nadeem
Departmental Coordinator,
Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences
CEO Anjum Eye Care & Optical Company
Optometrist, Al-Khair Eye Hospital Lahore
Co-Incharge OTTC, Optician, Refractionist, COAVS
Phone:03344496480, Email: shanjum92@gmail.com

3. Eye Injuries
What is an eye injury?
An eye injury is defined as a physical or
chemical hurt to the eye that can effect or impair
vision and can lead to potentially blindness. Eye
injuries range from minor bruises and
scratches to serious lacerations, fractures,
and burns. Eye injuries can range from being
very minor for example getting soap in the
eye to becoming potentially blinding.

4. Types of Eye Injuries
I.Bleeding in the eye:
Signs and symptoms:
‐ There aren't really any
symptoms for bleeding in
the eye. And no real
treatment for bleeding it
just slowly disappears.
‐ A small red spot of blood
on the sclera (the white bit
of the eye).

5. II. Direct Trauma (Corneal Abrasion):
Signs and Symptoms:
- Pain
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Cuts or wounds
- Headache
- Loss or impairment of vision
- Stinging
Corneal Abrasion
Direct Trauma

6. III. Chemical contamination:
Signs and symptoms:
- Pain and Burning
- Redness
- Swollen Eye lids
- Stinging

7. IV. Hyphema:
Signs and Symptoms:
‐ pain
‐ blurred vision
‐ a pool of blood in the lower eye lid.

8. V. Infections
Signs and symptoms:
- Persistent itching
- Flaking of the eye lids
- Discomfort of the eyes
- Blurring vision
- Watery eyes
- Eye discharge
- Pain
- Swelling of surrounding tissue

9. VI. Allergies
Signs and symptoms:
-Redness
-Persistent itching
-Watery eyes
-Burning sensation
-Blurred vision
-Mucous production

10. First Aid for Eye Emergencies:
• Know where each eye wash station is located and the
quickest route to First Aid.
• DO NOT assume that any eye injury is harmless. All
eye injuries are to report to the Optometrist/
Ophthalmologist immediately.
• DO NOT press or rub an injured eye.
• DO NOT remove contact lenses.
• DO NOT attempt to remove a foreign body or any
object that appears to be embedded in any part of
the eye.
• DO NOT use tweezers, or anything else on the eye
itself.

11. I. Foreign Bodies (specks) to the Eye:
These measures can be taken and are often effective in
removing a foreign body that is not actually embedded.
1) Pull down the lower eyelid and see if the body lies on
the surface of the lid's lining membrane. If it does, it
should be lifted off gently with a cotton swab or other
applicator moistened with water. (Never use dry cotton
around an eye.)
2) Grasp the lashes of the upper lid gently between the
thumb and forefinger, have the patient look upward and
pull the upper eyelid forward and downward over the
lower eyelid. A foreign body on the lining membrane of
the upper lid can often be dislodged and swept away by
the tears.
3) Flush the eye out with clean water. This can be done
with a small bulb syringe or with an eyedropper. Never,
under any circumstances, should oil of any kind be used in
first-aid treatment.

12. If the foreign body is still present or
embedded in the eyeball, send the patient
promptly to a physician. A retained foreign
body may cause tissue changes and scars to
develop; in some cases, this may cause loss of
sight. Remember, inflammation in one eye
may set up sympathetic inflammation in the
other.

13. II. Cuts and Punctures of the Eye or Eyelids:
•Do NOT wash out the eye with water or
any other liquid.
•Do NOT try to remove an object that is
stuck in the eye.
•Cover the eye with a rigid shield without
applying pressure. A paper cup can be
used.
•Refer to the Optometrist/
Ophthalmologist at once.

14. III.Chemical Burns to the Eye:

15. In all cases of eye contact with chemicals:
• Immediately flush the eye with water. Hold the
eye under a faucet or shower, or pour water into
the eye using a clean container. Keep the eye
open and as wide as possible while flushing.
Continue flushing for at least 15 minutes.
• If a contact lens is in the eye, begin flushing over
the lens immediately. This may wash away the
lens.
• DO NOT bandage the eye.
• DO NOT use an eyecup.
• Continue to flush the eye until
emergency medical services arrive.

16. The following is one flushing method:
Tilt the patient's head toward the injured side and then pour
clean water slowly into the eye while you hold the lid open.
Use an ordinary glass or cup or if available, a small funnel to
direct the stream. The liquid should be poured into the inner
corner of the eye and allowed to run over the eyeball and
under the lid for at least 10 minutes; make sure all parts of
the eye, corners and under the lid are flushed thoroughly.
After flushing, a simple patch -- preferably, a sterile oval pad
-- should be placed over the eye, or eyes, and the patient
should be taken quickly to an eye physician. Use no
medication in first-aid treatment.

17. IV. Welder’s Flash Burn:
• “Sunburn"-like condition on the cornea,
typically heals within two days.
• Must be assessed by the Optometrist/
Ophthalmologist.
• Wear an eye patch over affected eye to
protect it during sleep.
• Wear dark sunglasses with UV protection
when being exposed to sunlight or bright
light.
• The Optometrist/ Ophthalmologist may refer
off-site is pain
is severe or vision is blurred.
• Prevention is key. Set up fire-resistant
curtains/shield around the machine to protect
nearby workers from welding flash.

18. WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF OTHER INJURIES TO THE EYELIDS??
‐ The best advice is to take the victim to a doctor immediately.
Damage to the lids can result from non-expert care. The only
recommended first-aid treatment is the application of a clean
cloth or gauze pad, or a sterile oval eye pad, held in place with a
firm bandage.
‐ In case of a serious injury, a pad of clean cloth gauze or a sterile
oval eye pad should be applied to the eye. Cover both eyes while
the accident victim is en route to the physician's office.
‐ If the accident victim is in deep shock or a coma, close the eyelids
to prevent visual damage that might result from drying of the
eyeballs. If the lids fail to stay closed, they should be covered
with a gauze pad or held shut with adhesive tape.