What is an eye injury?
An eye injury usually consists of cuts, scrapes, or bruises
on or near the eye. If you have an eye injury, you need to
get medical care quickly to check your vision. Getting care
right away can prevent loss of sight in some cases. Although
first aid is helpful, it is difficult for you to know the
extent of damage to the eye. Give first aid then seek
medical care.
How is it treated?
Cuts or scrapes
If you have a cut near the eye, first wash your hands.
Put a clean cloth over eyeball area to protect it. Then,
use a clean cloth to wash the wound vigorously with liquid
soap and water for 5 minutes. Rinse the wound well. Put
pressure on the cut for 10 minutes with a sterile gauze to
stop bleeding. Leave the area exposed to the air. Antiseptic
ointments are usually unnecessary.
If you suspect that the eyeball itself has been cut or
punctured, do not attempt to clean or wash out the eye. You
should tape a paper or Styrofoam cup over your eye and go
immediately to you healthcare provider or emergency room.
Do not put any pressure on the eye.
Swelling or bruises
Swelling usually follows injury to the tissues or bone
around the eye. Apply ice for 20 minutes. Take
acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain if necessary. Don't be
surprised if a black eye develops over the next 2 days. A
bruise of the white of the eyeball (a subconjunctival
hemorrhage) may also occur. These bruises may look bad, but
they are harmless. They do not spread to inside the eye and
clear up in about 2 weeks.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2007 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
