You can treat many minor
eye irritations by
flushing the eye with
water, but more serious
injuries require medical
attention.Injuries to
the eye are the most
common preventable cause
of blindness, so when in
doubt, err on the side
of caution and call your
doctor for help.
What to Do:
Routine Irritations
(sand, dirt, and other
foreign bodies on the
eye surface)
-
Wash your hands
thoroughly before
touching the eyelids
to examine or flush
the eye.
-
Do not
touch, press, or rub
the eye itself, and
do whatever you can
to keep your child
from touching it (a
baby can be swaddled
as a preventive
measure).
-
Do not
try to remove any
foreign body except
by flushing, because
of the risk of
scratching the
surface of the eye,
especially the
cornea.
-
Tilt the child's
head over a basin or
sink with the
affected eye down
and gently pull down
the lower lid,
encouraging the
child to open his or
her eyes as wide as
possible. For an
infant or small
child, it's helpful
to have a second
person hold the
child's eyes open
while you flush.
-
Gently pour a
steady stream of
lukewarm water (do
not
heat the water) from
a pitcher or faucet
over the eye.
-
Flush for up to
15 minutes, checking
the eye every 5
minutes to see if
the foreign body has
been flushed out.
-
Because a
particle can scratch
the cornea and cause
an infection, the
eye should be
examined by a doctor
if there continues
to be any irritation
afterward.
-
If a foreign
body is not
dislodged by
flushing, it will
probably be
necessary for a
trained medical
professional to
flush the eye.
Embedded Foreign Body
(an object penetrates or
enters the globe of the
eye)
If an object, such as
a piece of glass or
metal, is sticking out
of the eye, take the
following steps:
-
Call for
emergency medical
help.
-
Cover the
affected eye with a
small cup taped in
place. The point is
to keep all pressure
off the globe of the
eye.
-
Keep your child
(and yourself) as
calm and comfortable
as possible until
help arrives.
Chemical Exposure
-
Many chemicals,
even those found
around the house,
can damage an eye.
If your child gets a
chemical in the eye
and you know what it
is, look on the
product's container
for an emergency
number to call for
instructions.
-
Flush the eye
(see above) with
lukewarm water for
15 to 30 minutes. If
both eyes are
affected, flush them
in the shower.
-
Call for
emergency medical
help.
Call your local
poison control center
for specific
instructions. Be
prepared to give the
exact name of the
chemical, if you have
it. However, do
not delay
flushing the eye first.
Black Eye, Blunt Injury,
or Contusion
A black eye is often
a minor injury, but it
can also appear when
there is significant eye
injury or head trauma. A
visit to the doctor or
an eye specialist may be
required to rule out
serious injury,
particularly if you're
not certain of the cause
of the black eye.
For a black eye:
-
Apply cold
compresses
intermittently: 5 to
10 minutes on, 10 to
15 minutes off. If
you use ice, make
sure it's covered
with a towel or sock
to protect the
delicate skin on the
eyelid.
-
Use cold
compresses for 24 to
48 hours, then
switch to applying
warm compresses
intermittently. This
will help the body
reabsorb the leakage
of blood and may
help reduce
discoloration.
-
If the child is
in pain, give
acetaminophen —
not
aspirin or
ibuprofen, which can
increase bleeding.
-
Prop the child's
head with an extra
pillow at night, and
encourage him or her
to sleep on the
uninjured side of
the face (pressure
can increase
swelling).
-
Call your
doctor, who may
recommend an
in-depth evaluation
to rule out damage
to the eye. Call
immediately if any
of the following
symptoms are noted:
-
increased
redness
-
drainage
from the eye
-
persistent
eye pain
-
any changes
in vision
-
any visible
abnormality of
the eyeball
-
visible
bleeding on the
white part
(sclera) of the
eye, especially
near the cornea
If the injury
occurred during one of
your child's routine
activities, such as a
sport, follow up by
investing in an ounce of
prevention — protective
goggles or unbreakable
glasses are vitally
important.
