A How-to Guide to Treating Common Eye Injuries

Eye injuries come in many shapes and sizes, some more serious than others. Some might require emergency treatment and immediate care by an optometrist, while others can be taken care of at home. Read this guide to typical eye injuries, to determine your next step following an eye emergency. Don’t forget that general preventive measures including wearing safety goggles may be your best approach to avoiding eye injuries altogether.

A corneal abrasion or scratched eye is on the more serious end of the spectrum. It can lead to serious damage in a short amount of time and potentially result in blindness. Abrasions are generally caused by a poke in the eye, or rubbing the eye when there is sand in it. Since a scratch can make your eye susceptible to fungal infection it’s very important that you call your eye care practitioner or an urgent care clinic. The best advice for a corneal abrasion is to keep it loosely closed and to see your optician immediately to inspect it. Touching the eye will only cause more harm and completely covering the eye can give bacteria a place to grow.

It’s important to have a plan for what steps to take if you’ve been splashed in the eye by a chemical. First, you should rinse your eye out by putting your face under a strong stream of barely warm water for approximately 15 minutes. Then contact your optometrist or an urgent care center to hear what they recommend for such injuries. Make sure to tell the practitioner precisely what chemical got into your eye and what you’ve done. If you’re experiencing intense blurriness, go immediately to your eye care practitioner or an urgent care clinic after rinsing it with water. Exposure to chemicals in the eye can result in a range of degrees of damage, from minimal discomfort to severe harm and even blindness.

While no one ever wants to think about an eye injury, it’s advisable to be prepared with what to do in serious circumstances. By following these guidelines you can rest assured that you’ll be ready to deal with most typical eye problems. Don’t forget, extra safety precautions can help you avoid these injuries altogether so consult with your optometrist about preventative eye care options!