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You should get immediate medical attention if you have any of the following
symptoms as they may signal serious eye injury.
- Obvious pain or vision problems
- Cut or torn eyelid
- One eye that does not move as completely as the other
- One eye that protrudes more than the other
- Abnormal pupil size or shape
- Blood in the white of the eye
- Something imbedded in the eye
- Something under the eyelid that cannot be easily removed
GET TO A PROFESSIONAL – AN OPTOMETRIST OR OPTHALMOLOGIST
If your eye is injured, it is tempting to think that you can just flush it out with some cold water and it will be fine. However, it is not easy to judge the extent or severity of any eye injury, so you should always get immediate, professional medical attention. It is the best way to safeguard your vision.
Here are some steps you can take in the event of an eye injury before getting professional advice:
Trauma to the Eye: If your child is hit in the eye, rest a protective shield—such as a Styrofoam cup—on the bone around your eye. Make sure there is no pressure on the eye itself.
Foreign Body: If an object has entered your eye, do not try to remove it; you may tear delicate tissue or force the object in deeper. Rest a protective shield—such as a Styrofoam cup—on the bone around your eye, making sure there is no pressure on the eye itself.
Black Eye: If you are hit in the eye area, place an ice pack or cold cloth over your eye.
Chemical Burn: If your eye has sustained a chemical burn, rinse it with
fresh water for at least 15 minutes. Hold your head under the tap or
use a clean container to pour water into your eye. As you rinse, use
your fingers to hold your eye open as wide as possible and roll your
eye to ensure the greatest possible coverage.
