Eye Injuries

1. Eye Injuries

2. WELCOME

3. Anatomy of the Eye:

4. Parts of the Eye: • Conjunctiva: Thin membrane covering the eye • Sclera: The whites of the eye • Cornea: The fixed focus lens • Aqueous Lens: The fluid that fills a small chamber behind the cornea • The Iris: The coloured part of the eye • The Pupil: The hole inside the iris ring

5. Parts of the Eye: • The Vitreous Humour: Thick jelly like fluid that fills the eyeball and keeps it firm • Retina: The curved back layer of the eye covered in light sensitive cells ( roots & cones) that can see shapes, colours & patterns • Optic Nerve: Sends info from the retina to the brain.

6. History: Casualty Sheet: • Mechanism of injury – How did it happen, safety glasses, time frame, welding? • Were they wearing contacts? • Was it a projectile object? • Was force involved? • Was the pt working with metal or in an environment where there may be metal debris?

7. Eye Injuries: • Flying Particles • Foreign Bodies • Welding flashes • Chemicals • Sharp tools or objects • Blunt tools or objects

8. Foreign Body: • Depending on what it is and how the injury happened, a FB may pierce the eye and cause serious injury or may simply go away with nil long term problems. Symptoms Include: • Sharp pain in your eye – followed by burning, irritation tearing and redness • Feeling that something is moving around the eye when it is closed • Scratching sensation over your eye when blinking • Blurred vision or loss of vision in the affected eye • Bleeding into the white part of the eye OR the coloured area – this indicates a significant injury. • Can’t stand the light

9. Foreign Body Eye: Examine the eye: • Ask the pt where they feel the irritation or scratching is? • Irrigate with normal saline • Invert the upper eyelid with cotton bud - How? • If visible with the naked eye –can remove with wet cotton bud-gently swipe.

10. Foreign Body: • Rubbing may scratch or push the FB in further (Corneal abrasion) • Eye wash in some cases may be enough • FB will often hide behind the upper eyelid • Will scratch if not removed

11. Foreign Body:

12. Rust Ring to Eye: • URGENT : Vision can be effected • Note with metal rings can occur if not removed

13. Treatment: • Eye wash • Look at the pupil – are they equal • Always ask pt if improvement post eye wash • Always ask the pt to return 2 hours post wash - either to you or Medical centre • A FB Especially metal can cause blindness if not treated (rust rings start within 3 hours) • Corneal Abrasions have good outcome (Heal in 48hrs) if treated early with AB eye ointment

14. Treatment:

15. Treatment: • Despite irrigating the eye. There may be FB that cannot be seen with the naked eye and needs to be examined closer – contact the OHN • OHN -If needed during working Hours an Ophthalmologist App can be organised.

16. Chemical Burns: • Wash immediately with copious amounts of water • Get MSDS • Treatment essential OHN • Usually treated 2-3L N/Saline. • Sent off for further treatment • Lead to infection, scarring, loss of sight

17. Penetrating Eye Injuries: • Sharp or blunt injuries • Medical Emergency • Potentially cause blindness • Preventable

18. Conjunctivitis: • Infection Eye • General Health Issue • Watery • Redness • Itchy • Irritation

19. Lime Burns:

20. Flash Burns: • Welding without safety shield or standing close to someone welding • Usually occurs 6-12 hours after event • Inflammation of the cornea (the clear tissue that covers the front of the eye) • Like sunburn in the eye • Usually heals in 1 – 2 days without leaving a scar • If not treated can lead to infection

21. Symptoms: • Pain mild or severe • Bloodshot eyes • Light sensitivity • Watery eyes • Blurred vision • The feeling of having something in your eye

22. Treatment: • Examination of the eye – stain eye • Phenylepherine drops ( FB must be excluded prior to use) • May require panadiene forte • Antibiotics • Review by ophthalmologist

23. If you have any questions, please ask your supervisor