Medicines for Eye injuries

What it is

Eye injuries cover a wide range of injuries to the eye or the area around it, and are common. They include: something getting into the eye (a foreign body, such as grit, dust, an eyelash, or a small particle); a scratch or graze to the surface of the eye (a corneal abrasion); chemicals splashing into the eye; a blow to the eye (for example from a ball, fist, or object), which can cause bruising ("black eye") or, more seriously, damage inside the eye; a penetrating injury (where something sharp cuts or enters the eye); and burns to the eye (chemical, heat, or from intense light such as welding or strong sunlight/UV). Eye injuries range from minor, which settle with simple care, to serious, sight-threatening emergencies. The symptoms depend on the injury and can include: pain, a gritty or foreign-body sensation, watering, redness, blurred or reduced vision, sensitivity to light, and swelling or bruising around the eye. Because the eye is delicate and vision is precious, it is important to know which injuries need urgent medical attention: these include chemicals in the eye (which need immediate rinsing and urgent care), a penetrating injury or something embedded in the eye, a blow to the eye with changes in vision or severe pain, loss of or reduced vision, and other serious symptoms. Many minor injuries — such as a small foreign body that is washed out, or a minor scratch — settle with simple first aid and care, but if in doubt, or if there are concerning symptoms, assessment is important. The key messages are that eye injuries range from minor to sight-threatening, that certain injuries (chemicals, penetrating injuries, blows with visual changes, or loss of vision) are emergencies needing urgent care, and that it is best to seek advice if unsure, given how precious sight is.

How it is treated

Eye injuries are managed according to the type and severity, with certain injuries needing urgent emergency care to protect sight, and simple first aid for minor ones — and when in doubt, it is best to seek advice. Some injuries need immediate action and urgent care: for chemicals splashed in the eye, the eye should be rinsed immediately with clean water (or saline) for a prolonged period (holding the eye open and flushing continuously), and urgent medical help sought, as chemical burns can seriously damage the eye; for a penetrating injury or something embedded in the eye, the object should not be removed and the eye should not be pressed on — the eye should be protected (for example lightly covered without pressure) and urgent care sought; and for a serious blow to the eye, loss of or reduced vision, severe pain, or other serious symptoms, urgent assessment is needed. For minor injuries — such as a small foreign body (grit or an eyelash) on the surface of the eye — simple first aid can help: blinking, or gently rinsing the eye with clean water or saline to wash the particle out, often removes it; if a particle is under the upper lid, gently pulling the upper lid over the lower lashes may help. It is important not to rub the eye, and not to try to remove anything stuck on or in the eye, or a foreign body on the coloured part of the eye — these need professional removal. A minor scratch (corneal abrasion) often heals within a day or two, and may be treated with lubricating drops and sometimes antibiotic drops to prevent infection; a black eye (bruising around the eye) from a blow usually settles like any bruise, but the eye itself should be checked if there are visual symptoms or concern. If a foreign body cannot be removed easily, if symptoms persist (such as ongoing pain, a foreign-body sensation, watering, or blurred vision), or if there is any concern, assessment (by a GP, pharmacist, optician, or eye casualty/A&E depending on severity) is important. Wearing appropriate eye protection during risky activities (such as DIY, grinding, using chemicals, or certain sports) helps prevent eye injuries. The key messages are to recognise which injuries are emergencies — chemicals (rinse immediately and seek urgent care), penetrating injuries (do not remove the object; seek urgent care), and blows with visual changes or loss of vision (urgent care) — to use simple first aid for minor injuries (rinsing out a small foreign body, not rubbing the eye), and, given how precious sight is, to seek advice if unsure or if symptoms persist.