Eye Injuries (base content)

It’s common for a speck of dirt to get blown into your eye, for soap to wash into your eye, or for you to accidentally bump your eye. For these types of minor eye injuries, home treatment is usually all that is needed.

Some sports and recreational activities increase the risk of eye injuries.

• Very high-risk sports include boxing, wrestling, and martial arts
• High-risk sports include baseball, football, tennis, fencing, and squash
• Low-risk sports include swimming and gymnastics (no body contact or use of a ball, bat, or racquet)

Blows to the eye

Direct blows to the eye can damage the skin and other tissues around the eye, the eyeball, or the bones of the eye socket. Blows to the eye often cause bruising around the eye (black eye) or cuts to the eyelid. If a blow to the eye or a cut to the eyelid occurred during an accident, be sure to check for injuries to the eyeball itself and for other injuries, especially to the head or face. Concern about an eye injury may cause you to miss other injuries that need attention.

Burns to the eye

Burns to the eye may be caused by chemicals, fumes, hot air or steam, sunlight, tanning lamps, electric hair curlers or dryers, or welding equipment. Bursts of flames or flash fires from stoves or explosives can also burn the face and eyes.

• Chemical burns can occur if a solid chemical, liquid chemical, or chemical fumes get into the eye. Many substances will not cause damage if they are flushed out of the eye quickly. Acids and alkali substances can damage the eye. It may take 24 hours after the burn to determine the seriousness of an eye burn. Chemical fumes and vapours can also irritate the eyes.
• Flash burns to the cornea can occur from a source of radiation like the sun or lights. Bright sunlight (especially when the sun is reflecting off snow or water) can burn your eyes if you don’t wear sunglasses that filter out ultraviolet (UV) light. Eyes that are not protected by a mask can be burned by exposure to the high-intensity light of a welder’s equipment (torch or arc). The eyes also may be injured by other bright lights, such as from tanning booths or sunlamps.

Foreign objects in the eye

A foreign object in the eye, such as dirt, an eyelash, a contact lens, or makeup, can cause eye symptoms.

• Objects may scratch the surface of the eye (cornea) or become stuck on the eye. If the cornea  is scratched, it can be hard to tell whether the object has been removed, because a scratched cornea may feel painful and as though something is still in the eye. Most corneal scratches are minor and heal on their own in 1 or 2 days.
• Small or sharp objects travelling at high speeds can cause serious injury to many parts of the eyeball. Objects flying from a lawn mower, grinding wheel, or any tool may strike the eye and possibly puncture the eyeball. Injury may cause bleeding between the iris and cornea (hyphaema), a change in the size or shape of the pupil, or damage to the structures inside the eyeball. These objects may be deep in the eye and may require medical treatment.

In the case of a car air bag inflating, all three types of eye injuries can occur. The force of impact can cause a blow to the eye, foreign objects may enter the eye, and chemicals in the air bag can burn the eye.

Eye injuries can be prevented by using protective eyewear. Wear safety glasses, goggles, or face shields when working with power tools or chemicals or doing any activity that might cause an object or substance to get into your eyes. Some professions, such as health care and construction, may require workers to use protective eyewear to reduce the risk of foreign objects or substances or body fluids getting in the eyes.

After an eye injury, you need to watch for vision changes and symptoms of an infection. Most minor eye injuries can be treated at home.

Home Treatment

Most minor eye injuries can be treated at home.

• If you have a cut on your eyelid, apply a sterile bandage or cloth to protect the area. If you don’t have a sterile bandage, use a clean cloth. Do not use fluffy cotton bandages around the eye that could tear apart and get stuck in the eye. Keep the bandage clean and dry.
• To reduce swelling around the eye, apply ice or cold packs for 15 minutes 3 or 4 times a day during the first 48 hours after the injury. The sooner you apply a cold pack, the less swelling you are likely to have. Place a cloth between the ice and your skin. After the swelling goes down, warm compresses may help relieve pain.
• Do not use chemical cooling packs on or near the eye. If the pack leaks, the chemicals could cause more eye damage. Do not use a piece of raw meat on an injured eye.
• Keep your head elevated to help reduce swelling.
• Try a nonprescription pain medicine such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin to relieve pain. Do not take aspirin if you are younger than 20 unless your doctor tells you to.

If your eye symptoms are not completely gone after 24 hours of home treatment, see your doctor.

Eye injury in a child

Applying first aid measures for an eye injury in a child may be difficult, depending on the child’s age, size, and ability to cooperate. Having another adult help you treat the child is helpful. Stay calm and talk in a soothing voice. Use slow, gentle movements to help the child remain calm and cooperative. A struggling child may need to be held strongly so that first aid can be started and the seriousness of the eye injury assessed.

Preventing Eye Injuries

Protecting your eyes from injury is one of the most basic things you can do to keep your vision healthy throughout your life.

You may be somewhat aware of the possible risks of eye injuries, but are you taking the easiest step of all to prevent 90 percent of those injuries: wearing the proper protective eyewear?

If you are not taking this step, you are not alone. According to a national survey by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, only 35 percent of respondents said they always wear protective eyewear when performing home repairs or maintenance; even fewer do so while playing sports.

If you have suffered an eye injury, review these care and treatment recommendations. But most importantly, have an ophthalmologist or other medical doctor examine the eye as soon as possible, even if the injury seems minor.

Eye Injury Facts and Myths

·         Men are more likely to sustain an eye injury than women.

·         Most people believe that eye injuries are most common on the job — especially in the course of work at factories and construction sites. But, in fact, nearly half (44.7 percent) of all eye injuries occurred in the home, as reported during the fifth-annual Eye Injury Snapshot.

·         More than 40 percent of eye injuries reported in the Eye Injury Snapshot were caused by projects and activities such as home repairs, yard work, cleaning and cooking. More than a third (34.2 percent) of injuries in the home occurred in living areas such as the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living or family room.

·         More than 40 percent of eye injuries every year are related to sports or recreational activities.

·         Eyes can be damaged by sun exposure, not just chemicals, dust or objects.

·         Among all eye injuries reported in the Eye Injury Snapshot, more than 78 percent of people were not wearing eyewear at the time of injury. Of those reported to be wearing eyewear of some sort at the time of injury (including glasses or contact lenses), only 5.3 percent were wearing safety or sports glasses.

Eye Injuries at Home

You might think that the family home is a fairly unthreatening setting. And responses to a recent public survey commissioned by the American Academy of Ophthalmology show that people generally agree. However, medical statistics tell a different story: nearly half of all eye injuries each year occur in and around the home, and home-based injuries are increasing each year.

Eye Injury Risks in the House

·         Using hazardous products and chemicals such as oven cleaner and bleach for cleaning and other chores (accidents involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year).

·         Cooking foods can that can splatter hot grease or oil.

·         Opening champagne bottles during a celebration.

·         Drilling or hammering screws or nails into walls or hard surfaces like brick or cement; the screws or nails can become projectiles, or fragments can come off the surface.

·         Using hot objects such as curling irons around the face; inadvertent contact with the user’s eyes can cause serious injury.

·         Loose rugs and railings or other hazards that could cause falls or slips.

Injury Risks in the Yard

·         Mowing the lawn.

·         Using a power trimmer or edger.

·         Clipping hedges and bushes.

Eye Injury Risks in the Garage or Workshop:

·         Using tools (power or hand).

·         Working with solvents or other chemicals.

·         Any task that can produce fragments, dust particles or other eye irritants.

·         Securing equipment or loads with bungee cords.

For all of these activities, it’s important to remember that bystanders also face significant risk and should take precautions against eye injuries too. This is particularly important for children who watch their parents perform routine chores in and around the home. Bystanders should wear eye protection too or leave the area where the chore is being done.

Preventing Eye Injuries at Home

Wearing protective eyewear will prevent 90 percent of eye injuries, so make sure that your home has at least one approved pair and that you and your family members wear the eyewear when risks come into play.

There will still be occasions when accidents and injuries happen. Consider taking some of these safety steps around the home to diminish the risks even more:

·         Read the labels of chemicals and cleaners carefully, and don’t mix products.

·         Secure rugs and railings.

·         Cushion sharp corners and edges of furnishings and home fixtures if you have children or the elderly in your house.

·         Check the lawn or the outdoor area where you will be working for debris that can become a projectile.

·         Keep your tools in good condition; damaged tools should be repaired or replaced.

·         Make sure that all spray nozzles are directed away from you.

·         Use grease shields on frying pans to protect from splattering.

Eye Injuries in the Workplace

Historically, the workplace was the site of the majority of eye injuries. While the trends have changed — now, nearly half of all eye injuries each year occur in the home — it is true that the workplace can still present many threats to sight. Eye injuries on the job often require one or more missed work days to recover from and may cause temporary or permanent vision loss.

The most important thing you can do to protect your vision on the job is to always wear appropriate protective eyewear, which can prevent more than 90 percent of serious eye injuries.

Watching Out for Danger

Common causes for eye injuries are:

·         Flying objects (bits of metal, glass);

·         Tools;

·         Particles;

·         Chemicals;

·         Any combination of these or other hazards.

Protecting Your Eyes

There are three things you can do to help prevent an eye injury:

·         Know the eye safety dangers at work.

·         Eliminate hazards before starting work. Use machine guarding, work screens or other engineering controls. 

·         Use proper eye protection.

Wear protective eyewear whenever there is a chance of eye injury. Anyone working in or passing through areas that pose eye hazards should wear protective eyewear. This is particularly true of workers involved in welding, which poses a high risk of on-the-job eye injury, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

The type of safety eye protection needed depends on the hazards in your workplace and should be compliant with OSHA regulations for eye and face protection. If you are working in an area that has particles, flying objects or dust, you must at least wear safety glasses with side protection (side shields). If you are working with chemicals, you should wear goggles. If you are working near hazardous radiation (welding, lasers or fibre optics) you must use special-purpose safety glasses, goggles, face shields or helmets designed for that task.

Always be sure your eye safety wear is OSHA-compliant and has been approved by ANSI (ANSI-approved protective eyewear is manufactured to meet the American National Standards Institute eye protection standard).

If an eye injury occurs, see an ophthalmologist or go to the emergency room immediately, even if the eye injury appears minor. Delaying medical attention can result in permanent vision loss or blindness.

Protective Eyewear

Eye protection means more than just wearing the contact lenses or glasses you may use for vision correction. The type of eye protection needed will depend on the activity you are involved in.

For most repair projects and activities around the home, standard ANSI-approved protective eyewear will be sufficient. Sports eye protection should meet the specific requirements of that sport; these requirements are usually established and certified by the sport’s governing body and/or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Protection in the Home

The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Ocular Trauma recommend that every household have at least one pair of ANSI-approved protective eyewear to be worn when doing project or activities that could create a risk for eye injuries.

Choose protective eyewear with “ANSI Z87.1” marked on the lens or frame. This means the glasses, goggles or face shield meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z87.1 safety standard. ANSI-approved protective eyewear can be easily purchased from most hardware stores nationwide.

To determine if your activity merits eye protection, consider if it will involve:

·         Use of hazardous chemicals or other substances that could damage your eyes upon contact;

·         Flying debris or other small particles. Note that both active participants and bystanders can be at risk from such activities;

·         Projectiles or objects that could fly into the eyes unexpectedly.

Bottom line: use common sense and be Eye Smart, especially if there are children around for whom you’re setting an example.

Protection at Play

The eye protection needed for your sport is determined by various standards set by ASTM. The eye-safety standards by sport are as follows:

·         ASTM F803: Eye protectors for selected sports (racket sports, field hockey, baseball, basketball);

·         ASTM F513: Eye and face protective equipment for hockey players; 

·         ASTM F1776: Eye protectors for use by players of paintball sports;

·         ASTM F1587: Head and face protective equipment for ice hockey goaltenders;

·         ASTM F910: Face guards for youth baseball; and

·         ASTM F659: High-impact resistant eye protective devices for Alpine skiing.

Protective glasses or goggles with UV protection should be worn when snow or water skiing. They will help shield the eyes from sunburn and glare.

Protection at Work

The eye protection needed to do your job safely is determined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). To find out what standards apply, check with your company’s human resources department, or whoever is charged with overseeing OSHA compliance.

With the exception of welding, which requires additional eye and face protection, OSHA standards may often require the same ANSI-certified eye protection you should use at home.

Recognizing Eye Injuries

Because eye injuries can cause serious vision loss, it’s important to be able to recognize an injury and appropriately respond to it. DO NOT attempt to treat a serious eye injury yourself.

How to recognize an eye injury

If you notice any of these signs in yourself or someone else, get medical help right away.

·         The person has obvious pain or trouble seeing.

·         The person has a cut or torn eyelid.

·         One eye does not move as well as the other.

·         One eye sticks out compared to the other.

·         The eye has an unusual pupil size or shape.

·         There is blood in the clear part of the eye.

·         The person has something in the eye or under the eyelid that can’t be easily removed.

Care and Treatment Recommendations for Eye Injury

When an eye injury does occur, have an ophthalmologist or other medical doctor examine the eye as soon as possible, even if the injury seems minor at first.

A serious eye injury is not always immediately obvious. Delaying medical attention can cause the damaged areas to worsen and could result in permanent vision loss or blindness.

For all eye injuries:

·         DO NOT touch, rub or apply pressure to the eye.

·         DO NOT try to remove the object stuck in the eye.

·         Do not apply ointment or medication to the eye.

·         See a doctor as soon as possible, preferably an ophthalmologist.

If your eye has been cut or punctured:

·         Gently place a shield over the eye. The bottom of a paper cup taped to the bones surrounding the eye can serve as a shield until you get medical attention.

·         DO NOT rinse with water.

·         DO NOT remove the object stuck in eye.

·         DO NOT rub or apply pressure to eye.

·         Avoid giving aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs thin the blood and may increase bleeding.

·         After you have finished protecting the eye, see a physician immediately.

If you get a particle or foreign material in your eye:

·         DO NOT rub the eye.

·         Lift the upper eyelid over the lashes of your lower lid.

·         Blink several times and allow tears to flush out the particle.

·         If the particle remains, keep your eye closed and seek medical attention.

In case of a chemical burn to the eye:

·         Immediately flush the eye with plenty of clean water

·         Seek emergency medical treatment right away.

To treat a blow to the eye:

·         Gently apply a small cold compress to reduce pain and swelling.

·         DO NOT apply any pressure.

·         If a black eye, pain or visual disturbance occurs even after a light blow, immediately contact your Eye doctor or emergency room.

·         Remember that even a light blow can cause a significant eye injury.

To treat sand or small debris in the eye:

·         Use eyewash to flush the eye out.

·         DO NOT rub the eye.

·         If the debris doesn’t come out, lightly bandage the eye and see an Eye M.D. or visit the nearest emergency room.