Dealing With A Common Eye Injury
Eye injuries can be frustrating and quite a bit of a nuisance to deal with. On one hand, the situation is not so dire that you need to go to an emergency room but on the other hand, these kinds of injuries can make it virtually impossible to concentrate on any one task. As a result, it is important to schedule an appointment with an optometrist in order to deal with the problem. But what if you don't have the time or can't visit an optometrist? In this article, we'll go over how you can deal with common eye injuries yourself and what solutions you might be able to find in your daily life.
Scratched Eye
Eye scratches are quite common and can come as a result of playing with a pet, baby, or any kind of athletic event where small and concentrated movements are necessary. You will notice an eye scratch if you are experiencing eye pain or if it feels like there is something in your eye. If you have scratched your eye, try pulling your upper eyelid over your lower eyelid, blink a few times, and rinse your eyes with a saline solution or purified water. Do not put foreign objects like contact lenses or eye drops into your eye as this will serve to exacerbate the situation. Make sure you make an appointment with an optometrist if this has occurred.
Small Particle Inside of Eye
Like an eye scratch, this can be quite treacherous if you continue to poke around and attempt to remove it with your hands. Since hands are quite cumbersome tools to deal with the delicate portions of the eyes, they are not the most ideal removal aids. Instead, you can blink several times to produce the tears that can flush out the particle. Additionally, you can use purified water or a saline solution to flush out the particle. If you still cannot get the particle out using a flushing mechanism, be sure to make an appointment with your physician.
Chemical Splash in Eye
This is a risk for anyone that works in a laboratory setting or in a setting where chemicals are prevalent. If this has occurred, you will want to immediately use a purified water flush to remove any excess solution from your eye. Most laboratories have an eye flush station you can use. Be sure to make an emergency appointment with a physician and look up the chemical to see what the proper protocol is when dealing with a spill.
Hit In The Eye
If you have been hit in the eye, be sure to gently apply a cold compress or ice pack that can reduce the swelling that has occurred. Contrary to popular belief, you should not use food items like steaks because these can lead to bacterial infections. Whatever you do, do not apply pressure to the tender wound.