Essential First Aid Tips For Children’s Eye Injuries

While most child eye injuries are minor, such as getting soap in the eye or a speck of dirt under the eyelid, there are some that happen unexpectedly during sports activities or from a fall. These are often serious and need medical attention. Neurolens treatment specialist Lumen Optometric has shared below what you need to do if you have the following injuries:

Embedded Foreign Object

If an object, such as a piece of glass or metal, penetrates or enters the globe of the eye and/or is sticking out, you’ll need to call for emergency medical help or bring the child to the emergency room as soon as possible. You should also cover the affected eye with a small cup taped in place so that it keeps all pressure off the eye. Make sure to keep your child (and yourself) as calm and comfortable as possible until help arrives.

Irritations

If your child has dirt, sand, or other foreign bodies on their eye surface, our resident scleral optometrist recommends that you wash your hands thoroughly and examine the eye. Don’t touch, rub, or press the eye itself except by flushing, as other methods can easily scratch the surface, especially the cornea.

Next, tilt your child’s head over a basin or sink with the affected eye down and gently pull down the lower lid. Encourage your child to open the eyes as wide as possible, but if it’s an infant or small child, it’s helpful to have a second person hold the child’s eyes open while you flush. Afterward, gently pour a steady stream of lukewarm water from a pitcher or faucet over the eye, and flush for up to 15 minutes. Check the eye every 5 minutes to see if the foreign body has been flushed out.

When you need to have your eyes checked by a trusted dry eye treatment expert, don’t hesitate to visit Lumen Optometric. Contact us at (626) 921-0199, or you can fill out our convenient online contact form.