Home

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Erectile Dysfunction

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Doctor123.org

helps physicians and healthcare professionals

Chemical Eye Injury Discharge Instructions


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 care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Every chemical eye injury is a health emergency. Once you have seen your doctor, other care may be needed. This will depend on what chemical was in your eye and how much harm was done to your eye.
  • If your eye injury needs surgery, your doctor will tell you how to care for your eye(s) after surgery.

What follow-up care is needed?


Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. Your doctor may ask you to see an eye specialist called an ophthalmologist. ‚  

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

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.

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Signs of a very bad reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Go to the ER right away.
  • Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
  • Trouble breathing. This could mean the chemical was also inhaled.
  • Cloudy spot or sore on the cornea
  • Change in eyesight
  • Very bad eye pain
  • Blurred eyesight an hour after flushing
  • Tearing or blinking an hour after flushing
  • Redness in your eye after 24 hours
  • Health problem is not better or you are feeling worse

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my condition.
  • I can tell you how to care for my eye.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have bad eye pain, change in eyesight, or a cloudy place on my cornea.

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