Eye injuries come in many shapes and sizes, with varying degrees of severity. Some may require emergency action and immediate care by an optometrist, while others can be taken care of at home. Follow this guide to routine eye injuries, to decide your next move following an eye emergency. Remember that general preventive protections including wearing protective glasses may be your best bet for preventing eye problems altogether.
One injury that should be treated seriously is a scratched eye. It can cause serious damage in a short amount of time and possibly result in blindness. Abrasions are normally caused by a poke in the eye, or scratching the eye when there is dust in it. Because a scratch can make your eye susceptible to bacterial infection it's critical that you visit your eye care practitioner or an emergency room. The best advice for a scratched eye is to keep it loosely covered and to visit your eye doctor immediately to check it out. Rubbing the eye will only make it worse and patching the eye provides the ideal environment for bacteria.
It's particularly important to be aware of what steps to take if you've been splashed in the eye by a chemical. The first thing to do is place your head under a strong stream of lukewarm water for approximately 15 minutes. Then call your eye doctor or an emergency room to see what they suggest for such injuries. Make sure to tell the doctor precisely which chemical entered your eye and what you've done. If you're experiencing extreme blurriness, go straight to your eye doctor or an urgent care clinic after flushing it with water. Chemical encounters with the eye can result in a range of injuries, from minor discomfort to serious harm and even vision loss.
While it is sometimes unpleasant to anticipate an eye injury, it's always good to know how to react in such situations. By following this guide you can feel confident that you'll know how to handle most typical eye issues. Don't forget, extra safety precautions can help prevent this type of injuries altogether so speak to your eye care practitioner about preventative eye care options!