There are many different types of eye accidents that can occur, some more serious than others. Some might necessitate emergency treatment and immediate care by an optician, while others can be taken care of at home. Follow these guidelines for typical eye injuries, to decide the next step in case of an accident. Remember that general safety measures including wearing protective goggles or glasses may be your best approach to avoiding eye injuries altogether.
One injury that should not be taken lightly is a corneal abrasion (scratched eye). It can cause serious damage very quickly and possibly result in vision loss. Scratches are normally the result of 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 contact your optometrist or an urgent care center. The best care for a scratched eye is to keep it loosely closed and to see your optician as soon as possible to check it out. Rubbing the eye will only make it worse and patching the eye provides the perfect environment for bacteria.
Another common eye injury is chemical exposure. It is often frightening to be splashed in the eye by a potentially dangerous substance. It's critical to know which substance went into your eye. A chemical's fundamental makeup can make a big difference. Although acids can result in substantial swelling and burning, they can be rinsed out pretty easily. However, alkali chemicals that are bases can be much more serious even though they don't appear to be because they don't cause as much initial stinging or redness as acids.
While no one ever wants to think about a serious eye injury, it's advisable to know how to respond in potentially hazardous circumstances. By being prepared you can feel confident that you'll be ready to handle most common eye injuries. Of course, extra safety measures can help prevent these injuries altogether so speak to your optometrist about preventative eye care options!