Chemical Injuries of the Eye.
Some Chemical injuries can produce blinding effects if not treated immediately. Chemical injuries vary in their severity and therefore their effects on the eye. The extent of injury will depend on the actual chemical, the duration of the chemical contact with the eye and the treatment received.
Chemical injuries can occur at work or at home and at any time. It is important to know what to do in these emergency situations beforehand, as time matters.
We increasingly use more chemicals at home. Even though they are made for home use they can have serious effects on the eye. Some of these include ammonia (cleaning products), drain cleaner (lye), cement (lime). These chemicals are alkali and can cause significant injury. Frequently, alkali injuries are worse than acids.
Emergency treatment.
Emergency treatment outlined here needs to be started immediately whether at work or home as time is valuable.
These chemicals affect the pH of the eye (which is usually neutral at 7) and therefore need to be immediately washed out.
Immediately wash out the eye with sterile saline if available, if not cool tap water should be used. Irrigation should continue for at least 10 minutes. This wash out process is called irrigation.
The eyelids need to be opened with the fingers and the eye rolled around while under a tap or in a shower. This will get clean water into all corners of the eye. Care should be taken to get water under the lids as well by pulling the lower lid down and the upper lid all the way up.. This should continue for at least 10 minutes.
The eyes should not be rubbed at any time.
Contact lenses should be taken out after irrigation if still in place.
Immediate help should be sought at the emergency department or ophthalmologist after the emergency irrigation process.
All cases should be seen by an ophthalmologist to examine the extent of injury and if further irrigation will be required. pH levels may be tested Treatment will be started by an ophthalmologist if required.
Complications of chemical injuries.
Untreated chemical injuries can lead to corneal scarring, glaucoma, cataract and blindness.
How to prevent eye injuries.
1. Simple safety glasses or goggles should be used when dealing with dangerous substance that are known to cause eye injuries.
2. Securely lock away all chemicals from children. Remember to supervise them at all times.
We hope that this article will be helpful to you or someone else that you may know. Remember to like and share our page as we will be adding useful eye information regularly.
We provide full ophthalmic care at The Oculoplastic and Cataract Centre. We can be contacted at 319-3937
Comments