Section 20. Eye Disorders

Chapter 227. Eye Injuries

Topics: Introduction | Blunt Injuries | Foreign Objects | Burns

Burns

Exposure to extreme heat or chemicals makes the eyelids close quickly in a reflex reaction to protect the eyes from burns. Thus, only the eyelids may be burned; however, extreme heat can also burn the eye itself. The severity of the injury, the amount of pain, and the appearance of the eyelids depend on the depth of the burn.

Chemical burns can occur when an irritating substance gets into the eye. Even mildly irritating substances can cause substantial pain and damage the eye. Because the pain is so great, there is a tendency to keep the eyelids closed. This keeps the substance against the eye for a prolonged period, which may worsen the damage.

Treatment

To treat heat burns on the eyelids, a doctor or other health care practitioner washes the area with a sterile solution and then applies an antibiotic ointment or a strip of gauze saturated with petroleum jelly. The treated area is covered with sterile dressings held in place with a plastic bandage or stockinette to allow the burn to heal.

A chemical burn of the eye is treated by immediately flooding the open eye with water. This treatment must be started even before medical personnel arrive. Although a person may have difficulty keeping the injured eye open because of pain, quick removal of the chemical is essential. The injured person or a colleague may have to hold the eyelids open while flushing the eye with large amounts of room-temperature water.

A doctor may begin treatment by placing anesthetic drops and a drug to keep the pupil dilated in the eye. An antibiotic ointment is applied. Corticosteroid eye drops may be used to help reduce inflammation. Drugs to relieve pain may also be needed.

Severe burns need to be treated by an ophthalmologist to preserve vision and prevent major complications, such as damage to the cornea and iris, perforation of the eye, and deformities of the eyelids. However, even with the best treatment, severe chemical burns of the cornea, especially alkali injuries (such as from lye [caustic soda], which is often found in drain cleaners), can lead to scarring, perforation of the eye, and blindness. Using safety glasses when handling potentially hazardous chemicals is essential to help prevent these injuries.