Handling Common Eye Injuries

Eye injuries come in many shapes and sizes, some more serious than others. Some may necessitate emergency action and immediate care by an optometrist, while others can be taken care of at home. Follow these guidelines for common eye injuries, to plan out the next step following an accident. Remember that common sense safety measures such as wearing protective goggles may be the best way to ensure healthy vision.

An example of an injury that should not be taken lightly is a scratched eye. It can lead to serious harm very quickly and possibly result in vision loss. Abrasions are normally caused by a poke in the eye, or scratching the eye when there is sand in it. Because a scratch can open your eye to fungal infection it's critical to see your eye care practitioner or an urgent care center. The best advice for a scratched eye is to keep it loosely covered and to see your eye care practitioner immediately to check it out. Rubbing the eye will only make it worse and patching the eye can give bacteria a place to grow.

Chemical exposure is another critical type of eye injury. It can be traumatic to be sprayed in the eye by an unknown substance. It's important to know what substance entered your eye. A chemical's fundamental composition is the most significant factor. While acids can cause considerable redness and burning, they can be washed out pretty easily. However, base or alkali chemicals can be more severe but may not seem so since they don't cause as much immediate burning or swelling as acids.

While it is sometimes unpleasant to anticipate an injury to the eye, it's advisable to be prepared with what to do in serious emergencies. By being prepared you can be assured that you'll know how to handle most common eye issues. Of course, extra safety measures can help prevent this type of injuries altogether so speak to your optometrist about preventative eye care options!