First-Aid Treatment for Injured Eyes
It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Accidents can happen anytime, especially involving kids. When left alone, they get into all sorts of things, believing they are invincible. More often than breaking their bones, kids suffer eye injuries that leave them seriously hurt.
The impact of eye injuries on kids, or anyone for that matter, is tremendous. The sense of sight is very important during childhood development, when children start to recognize and relate to the world around them. An eye injury can deal a great blow on the rest of the kid’s life.
Similar to suffering injuries in other areas of the body, there are first-aid treatments that can be administered to those who suffer eye injuries. But remember that these only bridge the gap until professional help arrives. Applying first aid reduces the risk of further damage. However, caution is advised. The one who administers the treatment should at least have experience applying first aid or have the confidence to follow first-aid instructions.
Causes of Eye Injuries and Treatments
Children are very curious. Many are fearless when it comes to exploring their environment on their own. They try to taste and feel all that comes their way. This is one reason why anything that should not be ingested should be placed on top shelves.
Chemical Exposure
Cleaning solutions such as detergent liquids and floor polish should be out of children’s reach. These expose children and their eyes to chemicals that are very harsh and life threatening when consumed. When your kids are exposed to chemicals, do the following:
Avoid rubbing the eyes.
Immediately wash out the eye with lots of water. Use whatever is closest from a sink, shower or other source. Make sure this water is not exposed to dirty elements, which could worsen the injury.
Call for medical help while you are doing this or after 15 to 20 minutes of continuous flushing.
Don’t put a bandage over the eye. Gently cover it with a soft cloth, but don’t apply too much pressure.
Eye Injury From Physical Activity
Kids often play rough and hurt themselves in the process. They end up with bruises and black eyes, which can throb. This could feel like the eye is popping out of the socket and leave your child hurting for days. When this happens, you should:
Apply a cold compress, but don’t put pressure on the eye.
Have your kid take over-the-counter pain-relief medications. But make sure your child does not have allergic reactions and a history of taking these medications.
Ask your kid if his or her eye hurts. If pain is present, this requires immediate medical attention, especially when there is visible bruising, bleeding or a change in vision.
Foreign Particle in Eye
Playing in the sandbox can be fun, but it can also be a cause for concern when tiny particles blow in the wind and into your kid’s eyes. When this occurs, remember to:
Avoid rubbing the affected eye because doing so will only embed the particles deeper and cause serious eye infection.
Pull your kid’s upper lid down, and ask him or her to blink repeatedly.
Rinse with eyewash, if particle is still present.
If rinsing doesn’t help, ask your child to close his or her eye, bandage it lightly and see a doctor.
Make sure to consult an eye specialist when your child sustains eye injuries while playing. Anything that harms the eye can be life altering, and you should not take chances. Call the experts at East Side Eye Associates (212-861-6200) and Tribeca Eye Associates (212-693-7200).
