Eye Injuries

Eye injuries can vary in severity. Some loose, foreign objects can be rinsed out however others will need medical attention. 

Recognition

  • Pain/ discomfort
  • Child is able to tell you
  • Redness in eye/ bloodshot
  • Eye watering
  • Vision effected

Minor eye injury treatment

  • Wash your hands, if possible wear gloves
  • Sit child down and examine the eye 
  • Try to stop the child from rubbing their eye as this can make it worse
  • Do not press or rub the eye
  • Tilt the child’s head sidewards and gently pour cool running water straight from a tap or a clean jug over the eye. If water is not available use saline solution from your first aid kit or clean, bottled water
  • Flush from the inner eye direction outwards
  • If the irritation continues ensure the child seeks further medical attention as the cornea could potentially become scratched and infected

More serious eye injuries

  • Keep the child still and gently place a sterile dressing over the injured eye, this can be bandaged if neccessary
  • Ask the child to close the uneffected eye to minimise movement to the injured eye, it might be neccessary to bandage both eyes to stop the child causing more damage, give extra reassurance. 
  • The child will need to go to hospital
  • Call 999/112 is necessary 

Chemical eye injury

  • Act fast to minimise the chance of scarring or worst case, blindness
  • Wear gloves
  • Flush the eye with large volumes of clean water from a jug or a tap. Ensure the water is running away from the good eye. Child should have head tilted with the affected eye facing downwards. Flush for at least 20 minutes. If running water is not available use saline solution or clean bottled water. 
  • If the eye is closed gently but firmly try to open it to irrigate fully.
  • Call 999/112
  • If you know what chemical caused the burn and you have the packaging, keep this to hand for emergency services.