Title: Eye injuries
Course: Level 3 - First Aid > Section: Provision of First Aid service and referral

Foreign objects are often blown or rubbed into the eyes causing irritating and scratching the surface of the eye.

Signs and Symptoms Include:

- Redness of the eye.
- Burning sensation.
- Pain, headache.
- Overproduction of tears.
- Swelling and wound.
- The presence of a foreign body.

Precautions:

- Keep the victim from rubbing his eye.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before examining the victim's eye.
- Do not attempt to remove a foreign object by inserting a match stick tooth pick, or any other instrument.
- Refer the victim if something is embedded in the eye; or if something is thought to be embedded but cannot be located.

Injuries to the Eyelids:

- Stop the haemorrhage by gently applying direct pressure.
- Clean the wound and apply a sterile or clean dressing and seek medical help without delay.
- Bruises above and below the eye should be treated by an immediate cold application to stop bleeding and swelling.

Blunt Injury to the Eye:

- A contusion occurs from a direct blow, such as a fist, a vehicle accident or explosions that result in a black eye.
- A dry sterile or clean dressing should be applied, and the victim should be, transported lying flat and refer.

Removal of a Foreign Body From the Surface of the Eyeball

- Pull down the lower lid to determine the object lies on the inner surface.
- Lift it gently with the corner of a clean handkerchief or tissue paper.
- Flash the eye with abundant water.
- Apply a dry dressing and send the person to the hospital if the object is not removed.

Penetrating Injuries of the Eye:

- Can cause blindness!.
- Don't try to remove the objects or to wash the eye.
- Cover the eyes with a sterile or clean dressing to avoid movements of the affected eye.
- Keep and transport the victim by stretcher.

Removing Foreign Objects:

- Remove any superficially embedded objects safely.
- Deep embedded foreign objects should be left for removal by health professionals.