Chemical burns to the eyes
The surface of the eye can be severely damaged with any type of chemical burn. It can lead to the loss of sight if it is not treated quickly.
Chemicals can be transferred to the eye by splashing, spraying or simply from your own finger should it be contaminated.
Symptoms
- Watering of the eye
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Evidence of the chemical
Treatment
- You must wear gloves to prevent yourself being contaminated by the chemical
- Irrigate the eye for at least 20 minutes under running cool water, either by holding the head under a running tap, or by flushing the eye with a continual supply of cool tap water from a suitable container
- Ensure that the irrigation does not flow into the other eye
- Try to identify the chemical so that the emergency services know what chemical they are treating
- Cover the injured eye with a sterile eye dressing
- Arrange to transport them to hospital, or call for an ambulance