Lacerations of the eye
Eye lacerations can be caused by falls, contact with sharp objects, particularly flying objects such as grit, debris from a garden strimmer and shards of glass.
Signs and symptoms
- Eye pain and sensitivity to light
- Increase in tears produced by the eye
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Squinting caused by spasm of the muscle surrounding the eye
- Feeling that something is in the eye and it cannot be removed
Treatment
- Lie the casualty down and support their head in order to rest them
- Try to keep both their eyes still
- Cover their injured eye with a sterile eye dressing, or ask them to hold a sterile dressing in place
- Take them to the hospital if you are able to transport them. Failing that, call for an ambulance immediately