Lacerations of the eye
Eye lacerations can be caused by falls and contact with sharp objects particularly flying objects such as debris from a garden strimmer, dirt 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
- Wear disposable gloves
- Lie the casualty down
- Ask them 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 immediately or call for an ambulance