The eye is an important organ to give us vision and sight. Once damaged the vision is compromised and there is limited options in restoring the sight back to normal Therefore it is important to have knowledge and be aware of certain conditions that affect the eyes and prevent the loss of vision by providing first aid to eye injuries immediately when it occurs.
Instructions
1. Certain medical conditions or diseases can cause changes in vision, for example, diabetes can cause gradual and permanent decrease in vision for certain individuals over time, acute glaucoma can occur sudden and rapid vision impairment. Injuries to the eyes, ie, penetrating injuries, cuts or lacerations in or around the eye, infection, allergies, and chemical burns can all affect the eyesight and reduce vision.
2. There are certain signs and symptoms to look for when someone's vision is affected. If the person has experienced sudden vision changes and no injuries are involved they might complain of associated vomiting, nausea, headaches and or double/triple vision or even loss of vision. If an obvious injury can be found then there will be pain or stinging sensation at the wounded site, bleeding, a laceration/cut with or without the penetrating object present in the wound site, swelling and bruising of the affected area and redness/inflammation. The person can be rapidly blinking or experience extreme tearing or dryness and pithiness.
3. When the person has contracted conjunctivitis, red eye they will complain of specific signs like discharge from the eye and crusting around the eyelids. There will also be redness around the eye or the conjunctiva (the white area around the eye) and pain upon movement of the eyeball. Sometimes if a sty is present you will see a red bump or growth in the upper or lower eyelid which will interfere with the vision and blinking. Sometimes red eye can also present with associated nausea, and vomiting and headache.
4. When the eye has been lacerated the first thing to do is cover the injured eye with a dressing and bandage and take the victim to the doctor or ER for immediate medical attention. Don't put the bandage on too tight or apply pressure to the injured eye. If the cut is very deep and there is profuse bleeding that does not stop then call 911 immediately. While you are waiting for EMS you should administer first aid to prevent the victim from going into shock. This can be achieved by positioning the victim onto the back and then to elevate the lower extremities or legs to allow the blood flow to increase to the vital areas of the body, ie, brain and the heart. Cover the victim with a blanket to help maintain the body' s core temperature. If the cut is small and on the areas around the eye socket and it appears to be a very shallow cut then you should clean the area and then apply antiseptic ointment or cream to reduce the risk of infection and then cover the wound with dressing and bandage. Keep the wound area clean and change the dressing often.
5. For serious injuries that involves a penetrating object through he eye socket itself then you must call 911 (EMS)immediately. This is always a medical emergency and if there is a chance of saving the eye itself or reduce the loss of vision then immediate medical attention is absolutely needed. The first thing to do is place the injured person on his/her back down on the ground. Next, DO NOT REMOVE THE OBJECT from the eye or FLUSH the eye!!! Find a paper cup or some covering that will be able to cover the injured eye and the object. This will help to secure the object in position and prevent it from moving around in the eye which will cause more damage to the eye tissue and structures in the eye. Tape the covering or cup to the face and ensure its positioning by wrapping a bandage around lightly around the victim's head. To prevent the injured eye from moving around in the socket you can cover the other uninjured eye with a sterile dressing.
6. For eye problems in victims who wear contact lens and wounds that does not involve penetrating injuries or bleeding from the eye socket then you should attempt to remove the contacts from both eyes. To remove the lens you should place your index finger on the upper lid and on the lower lid and gently open the lids. Next, with your thumb from the other hand you should slide the contact lens towards the outer edge of the eye and the lens should either stick to your thumb and be removed or the lens will come out by pulling the skin at this edge up and down.
7. For chemical burns to the eye the to do is to flush the eye with water. You should hold the eyelids open with your hand, tilt the head towards the injured side of the face (this will prevent the chemical from being flushed into the other eye) and flush for approximately for 15 - 30 minutes to ensure you have removed as much of the chemical from the eye tissue. Make sure you start flushing from the inner side of the eye at the side of the nose area so the water and chemical will drain from the head at the same side of injured eye. Seek immediate medical attention to ensure that no permanent damage has occur to the sensitive eye tissue. Place a dressing and keep it in place with bandages to the eyes.
8. If the victim has experienced an injury to the eye to cause a haematoma or a "black eye" ( which is bleeding under the skin tissue around the eye) the first thing to do is make sure the person is sitting or lying down. Next place an ice pack or cold compress to the injured eye. Make sure you wrap the ice pack or cold compress with a cloth first before applying to the eye. If the victim complains of pain or extreme swelling and bruising and their is impairment in vision then take the victim to seek immediate medical attention.
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