Health Information

First Aid For Eyes

Introduction

Eyesight is a valuable and complex sense and your attention should be drawn to the fact that the vast majority of eye injuries are preventable.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE. If your place of work does not have readily available tap water, e.g. sinks in the WC, or kitchen etc. then provisions should be made to ensure that current Health & Safety regulations are met by means of making available sealed eye wash bottles.

1) Examine the Eye

  1. Obtain a history – find out what the casualty has been doing.
  2. Sit the casualty down and stand behind them.
  3. Ask them to lean back slightly and incline towards the side of the injured eye.
  4. With your thumb and index finger, gently part the upper and lower eyelids – explain this procedure to the casualty before you start.
  5. With the eyelids parted, ask the casualty to look up, down, left and right, at the same time look for any foreign bodies on the eye’s surface.

2) Irrigating the eye
Place the casualty in a reclined sitting position. If issued with sterile eyewash, carry out the following checks:

  1. Make sure the bottle is sealed.
  2. Ensure the product is within its expiry date.
  3. Check that the contents are not cloudy.

If not issued with eyewash, you may use tap water to irrigate the eye using the following steps:

  1. Get a small clean container preferably plastic.
  2. Turn on any safe cold drinking water tap and allow to run for 5 seconds.
  3. Fill the container to 3/4 full.

Irrigation

  1. If possible, place a kidney dish or bowl on the casualty’s shoulder with a towel to reduce spillage (the casualty can hold it in place).
  2. Inform the casualty of what you are doing and allow a small drop of water to drop onto their cheek; this will ensure they are accustomed to the water temperature of the eyewash.
  3. Wash the eye out, from the inner corner outward for 10 seconds at a time. Allow the casualty 5 seconds to blink. Carry on until the foreign body has been removed.
  4. Examine the dish for any signs of foreign bodies.
  5. Seek medical attention and transport for the casualty whilst keeping both of the casualty’s eyes immobile if there is pain or difficulty in seeing.

4) Chemical Contamination

  1. Beware of danger
  2. Quickly place the casualty in the reclined sitting position. If supplied put on gloves.
  3. Immediately begin to irrigate the eye with eyewash or tap water. Unless data sheet instructs differently, wash for usually 20 minutes.
  4. Send a colleague to identify the chemical that has caused the injury (it may have First Aid advice on the label).
  5. Consult your company’s Data sheet for information.
  6. Cover the eye.
  7. Seek immediate medical aid.

DO NOT:

  • Wash the eye out and send the casualty back to work without a medical opinion.
  • Discard any chemical containers etc. They may have valuable information.
  • Attempt to neutralise the chemical with other chemicals such as acids and alkalis.

5) Bruised Sockets

  1. Ensure the casualty does not have any additional injuries to the head or neck. If they have, these must take priority.
  2. The casualty’s eye should be examined and care not to exert too much force when opening the eye.
  3. If any sign of blood is seen leaking into the eye a medical opinion should be sought immediately.
  4. To reduce swelling and bruising, a cold compress may be lightly applied to injury.

The casualty should also be referred to medical aid if he or she experiences difficulty in focusing etc.

6) ARC Eye
Over exposure to UV (ultra violet) light sources. Most commonly ‘arc welding’ can cause a painful condition known as ‘arc eye’ or ‘welders flash’.

Signs and Symptoms

  • The casualty may complain that he/she has a severe headache. They may also
  • complain that their eyes feel gritty and will not be keen to have their eyes
  • exposed to any form of light. Sometimes the casualty sees black spots in centre of vision

Treatment

  1. Darken the room
  2. Lightly pad both eyes
  3. Refer to hospital

NB – The condition may also become apparent after exposure to strong sunlight from surfaces such as snow, water or shiny reflective surfaces.

7) Dressings
In general, eyes are padded in order to immobilise them and reduce further damage. The eyes have a sympathetic movement system and therefore move as one unit and as such it is not possible to pad one eye to prevent movement.

Embedded Foreign Bodies Major

  1. Leave the object (foreign body) in place.
  2. Lie the casualty down.
  3. If the object is protruding, immobilise with rolled dressings and hold in place until emergency services arrive. Instruct the casualty to close the other eye / pad other eye.

Embedded Foreign Bodies Minor

  1. Place a light pad over the affected eye.
  2. Gently bandage over both eyes.
  3. Send the casualty to hospital with an escort.

8) Call for Help
Lift the receiver and wait for the dialling tone.
Dial 999 or 112.
DO NOT Hang up at any stage of conversation. The operator will terminate the call when appropriate.