Chemical burns to the eyes

Chemical substances can be found in most workplaces and include solvents, pesticides, paint removing liquids, and chemicals used in dry cleaning.  Chemicals can also be found in household items such as bleach and some oven cleaners.

The eye can be severely damaged with any type of chemical burn which could result in scarring or even blindness.  It is essential that treatment starts immediately by washing the eye out to dilute the chemical.

Chemicals can be transferred to the eye by splashing, spraying or simply from a person’s hands to their eyes.

Signs and symptoms

• Intense pain
• Watering of the eye
• Redness and swelling around the eye
• Unable to open the injured eye
• Evidence of the chemical nearby

Treatment

• Wear disposable gloves to prevent yourself being contaminated
• Immediately irrigate the eye for at least 20 minutes under cool running water.  This can be under a running tap or by continuous flushing with cool tap water from a suitable container
• If the casualty’s eye is closed due to pain, gently open it to enable washing
• Make sure that the contaminated water does not flow into the other eye or onto yourself or the casualty
• Cover the injured eye with a sterile eye dressing
• Take the casualty to hospital or call for an ambulance
• Inform emergency services of any information you may have about the chemical
• Dispose of gloves and any other protective clothing properly due to contamination