It is quite common to get hurt and brush it off as something that can wait until tomorrow for the doctor to see, if we even admit that a doctor needs to see it at all. In many instances we're right. It can be a hassle to go to the doctor, and if we feel we can handle it ourselves, than why bother. There are, however, instances in which this is the wrong decision, and serious harm may come to us if we don't know the difference between an injury that requires a doctor and one that doesn't. This is especially true when it comes to your eyes, which are some of the most delicate parts of he body, and possibly among the most essential for experiencing our world fully. Neglecting to see an eye doctor in case of emergency can mean serious loss of vision or even total blindness. Below Dr. Jaime Gonzalez of Eye Pieces Dallas has outlined a list of common eyecare emergencies and how one should handle them:
Fertilizers, Paints and Other Harmful Chemicals
There are many common household items, among them Fertilizers, paints, laundry detergent, bleach, and aerosol air fresheners, that we run into every day and can do serious harm to our eyes. These and other items made of harsh chemicals can do serious harm to our eyes. Some of these chemicals can give you serious, sometimes permanent, chemical burns from just a single drop getting into your eye. If these chemicals somehow find their way into your eye, it is essential to seek medical help immediately and to handle the situation appropriately until help can be obtained. Contact lenses should be taken out immediately You should turn your head so that the injured eye is down and to he side, and hold your eyelid open and flush with cool tap water for approximately 15 minutes.
Large and/or Sharp Foreign Objects
The eye is meant to be able to clear itself of small irritants such as dust or smoke by blinking and tearing until the offending material has been cleared away. The eye is not, however, equipped to clear itself of larger and/or sharper objects that may become lodged in the eye or even the eyeball itself. A common, and unfortunate, occurrence among those who do manual labor or work with their hands as a hobby is that they will not wear protective goggles or glasses and a sharp piece of metal or glass flies up into their eye. An injury like this may be sight-threatening, and poses serious risk to the whole structure of the eyeball itself. Until help can be obtained, both eyes should be covered by a clean cloth. This should serve to reduce eye movements, which could do further damage to the eye. ABSOULTELY DO NOT attempt to remove these objects on your own. If you do, you run the risk of irreparably damaging sensitive parts of your eye.
Scratches and Cuts
These kinds of eye injuries are the most likely to be shrugged off as an, “I'll see the doctor tomorrow,” injury. However, this type of eye injury can also be quite serious, since the eye is filled with and surrounded by important fluids that help maintain proper eye shape and function, and if these fluids are lost, the eye may be permanently damaged. The same can be said about the delicate tissues on the inside of the eye, which, if damaged may also lead to serious damage or even blindness. If you receive a cut or scratch of this nature, you should gently apply cold compresses to reduce swelling and bleeding. DO NOT apply pressure to control the bleeding. Applying pressure may damage your eyes further. Contact your Dallas eye doctor immediately.
Dr. Gonzalez adds, “Beyond these general categories, a person should also contact an eye care professional if he/she is experiencing extremely painful, red eyes, uncontrollable bleeding from the eye, or if eye pain is accompanied by headache or nausea. All of these can also be signs of eye conditions that require immediate attention from an eyecare professional.”
For more information, contact Dr. Gonzalez today.