You can manage minor eye injuries in children by rinsing with water, but many cases of more serious injuries require medical attention.
Eye injuries – which are often preventable – can lead to blindness, so if there is any doubt or carelessness in handling eye injuries in children, quickly call a doctor for assistance.
* When a child’s eye is injured due to common causes such as sand, dust, or foreign objects:
– Wash your hands thoroughly before lifting the eyelid to check or before rinsing the eye.
– Do not allow the child to touch, press, or rub their eye, and try to keep them from touching the injured eye (for young children, you may use a cloth wrap to prevent them from rubbing their eyes).
– Avoid trying to remove any foreign object by rinsing under water, as this could scratch the surface of the eye, especially the cornea.
– Tilt the child’s head over a small basin of water, allowing the affected eye to be submerged while gently pulling down the lower eyelid, encouraging the child to open their eye wide. For infants or very young children, have a second person hold the child’s eye open while you rinse it.
– Gently pour warm water (not too hot) from a clean container into the affected eye. You can also use a sterile saline solution to rinse the child’s eye. Rinse for about 15 minutes, checking the eye every 5 minutes to see if the foreign object has been dislodged.
Since even a small piece of debris can scratch the cornea and cause infection, the eye should be examined by an eye specialist if there is still swelling after rinsing. If the foreign object cannot be removed by rinsing with water, take the child to an eye doctor.
* When a foreign object penetrates the eyeball:
– Quickly call for emergency assistance.
– Cover the affected eye. If it is a small object, use an eye patch or sterile bandage. If it is a larger object, cover the injured eye with a small cup secured in place. This will help avoid pressure on the eyeball. Keep the child (and yourself) calm and avoid excessive worry until medical personnel arrive.
* When chemicals enter the eye:
– Many chemicals, even those commonly found around your home, can harm the eyes. If a child gets a chemical in their eye and you know what it is, look for the emergency contact number on the container for guidance.
– Rinse the eye with lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes. If both eyes are affected, rinse them under the shower.
– Call a medical center for appropriate instructions. However, the first thing to remember is not to delay rinsing the eye with water.
T.VY (According to KidsHealth)
