Home

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Erectile Dysfunction

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Doctor123.org

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Chemical Eye Injury


About this topic


A chemical eye injury happens when certain substances get into the eye and cause harm. Chemicals can be in powders, liquids, sprays, or solids. Some chemicals do not do serious harm to the eye. These are called harmless chemicals. Harmless chemicals may cause eye soreness or pain but do not cause serious damage. Others, called harmful chemicals can cause serious damage to the eye including loss of eyesight. ‚  
How much eye damage there is depends on what kind of chemical has touched the eye and how long the chemical has been in the eye. Damage can happen within minutes. You should begin care right away, even before you go to an ER or before help comes. ‚  


View OriginalView Original

What are the causes?


Chemicals can be harmless or harmful. ‚  
  • Harmless chemicals:
    • May cause minor pain but no serious harm to your eye. These chemicals are often found in household products like:
      • Soap
      • Lotions like hand cream or sunscreen
      • Makeup
      • Hair soaps and sprays
      • Vinegar
      • Laundry soap
      • Mace or pepper spray
  • Harmful chemicals:
    • Acids (pH <7) can harm the front part of the eye. They can also damage the cornea which could lead to blindness. The lower the pH number, the more damage the chemical may cause. Acid products are found in:
      • Toilet bowl cleaners
      • Nail polish remover
      • Metal cleaners
      • Glass cleaners (hydrofluoric acid)
      • Car battery fluid (sulfuric acid)
    • Alkalis (pH >7) can harm the outer part of the eye, called the cornea, as well as the inner part of the eye, called the lens. A higher pH number will often cause more damage. Household bleach and ammonia are alkalis that, in most cases, do not cause damage. Harmful alkalis include:
      • Ammonia-based cleaning products
      • Lye ¢ ˆ ’ Found in drain cleaners
      • Lime ¢ ˆ ’ Found in cement and plaster
      • Oven cleaners
      • Fertilizer
      • Hydroxides like magnesium, potassium

What are the main signs?


  • Eye pain
  • Burning
  • Redness
  • Soreness
  • Lots of tearing
  • Sensitive to light
  • Not able to keep your eye open
  • Feeling that something is in your eye
  • Swelling of eyelids
  • Blurred eyesight

How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?


You will be given an eye exam to test your eyesight. This will help to see if there is any damage to your eye. You will also have a test to check the pH of your eye to find out if the problem was caused by an acid or an alkali. ‚  

How does the doctor treat this health problem?


Every chemical eye injury should be treated as a health emergency. Removing the substance from your eye(s) as soon as you can may keep you from having serious eye damage, including loss of eyesight. ‚  
Flushing your eyes will often clear the irritant and any pain in about an hour. Whether you get a more serious eye injury will depend on the chemical involved, how much has gotten into your eye(s), how long it stays on your eye(s), and how quickly you get care. ‚  
Note: If you are wearing contact lenses, do not try to take them out until you have flushed your eyes for a few minutes. Flushing may cause them to come out on their own. Once you get care, you may need to wear your glasses instead of your contact lenses for some time. ‚  
Begin rinsing your eye(s) right away. ‚  
  • Open your eye(s) as wide as you can and flush them over and over by pouring cool water into them from a glass or other container. You can also put your whole face into a sink of warm water or under a faucet or shower head. Open and close your eyes and look from side to side. Keep flushing your eye(s) until you can get help.
  • If only one eye has been in contact with the chemical, tightly close or cover the other eye to keep the chemical from getting into it. Turn your head to let the water to wash away from the unaffected eye.
  • Do not rub your eyes.
  • Get help right away. Call your local ER or have someone take you to an ER.
  • Take the product with you to the hospital if it is easy to grab.

Other treatment choices might include: ‚  
Minor eye injuries: ‚  
  • Flushing the eye for a few minutes or more
  • Drugs

Serious eye injuries: ‚  
  • Flushing until pH is normal. For very bad burns this may take as long as 24 hours.
  • Taking out any foreign particles
  • Checking eye pressure
  • Wearing an eye patch
  • Staying in the hospital
  • Surgery

What drugs may be needed?


For minor eye injuries, the doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Add moisture to the eyes
  • Help with pain

For serious eye injuries, the doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Numb the eye(s)
  • Help with pain and swelling
  • Prevent infection
  • Lower eye pressure

Will there be any other care needed?


Any chemical eye injury should be followed up with a visit to an eye doctor. ‚  

What problems could happen?


  • Scrapes
  • Eyelid damage
  • Loss of sight which later comes back
  • Dry eye syndrome
  • Scarring
  • Very bad cornea damage
  • Loss of eyesight ¢ ˆ ’ can be for a short time but your doctor will need to watch as healing begins. Eye damage can be long lasting in some cases.
  • Infection

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


  • Wear protective glasses when working with chemicals at home or at work.
  • Keep all household products, like cleaning supplies and other home chemicals, out of the reach of children.

Where can I learn more?


American Academy of Ophthalmology ‚  
http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/living/eye-injuries-care-treatment.cfm ‚  
American Industrial Hygiene Association ‚  
http://www.aiha.org/insideaiha/volunteergroups/labHandScommittee/Pages/ChemicalExposuretoBurns.aspx ‚  
National Eye Institute ‚  
http://www.nei.nih.gov/healthyeyestoolkit/pdf/EyeSafetyAtWorkRev.pdf ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

Copyright


Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚  
Copyright © 2016 - 2017
Doctor123.org | Disclaimer