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| Trauma & Emergency Care |
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The Emergency Ophthalmology Services provides 24-hour care for many different types of eye problems. There is a complete range of eye trauma services available, as well as subspecialty services including cornea, glaucoma, ocular plastics and neuro-ophthalmology.
Construction activities and industrial workplaces account for a large percentage of eye injuries seen. Many of these injuries are preventable by use of appropriate eye safety protection. Everyone engaged in construction activities, either at home or on the job, should wear eye protection at all times.
Sports activities also account for a large number of eye injuries every year. Many people do not realize that sports activities such as basketball and golf can be associated with significant eye injuries. Many children also sustain eye injuries during sports. and therefore, protective eyewear during such activity is encouraged. |
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| When should you come in to the Emergency room after having an eye injury? |
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Complete evaluation by an ophthalmologist is essential after any type of eye injury. Anyone who sustains a serious injury to the eye, including blunt injuries, should be seen as soon as possible.
In the case of a serious eye injury, the injured eye should be covered with a protective shield and the injured person should not have anything to eat or drink since repair in the operating room may be required.
Examination by emergency room physicians who are not ophthalmologists does not substitute for complete evaluation by a trained ophthalmologist.
Complete examination of the eyes after an injury includes a slit lamp examination and dilated pupil examination.
Prompt treatment of many eye injuries may lessen the impact of these injuries on patients' future visual functioning. |
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| Chemical injuries of the eye |
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Chemical exposure to any part of the eye or eyelid may result in a chemical eye burn. Chemical burns represent 7-10% of eye injuries. About 15-20% of burns to the face will involve at least one eye. Although many burns result in only minor discomfort, every chemical exposure or burn should be taken seriously. Permanent damage is possible and can be life-altering.
The severity of a burn depends on what substance caused it and how long the substance had contact with the eye. Damage tends to occur to the front of the eye.
Typically, a chemical eye burn occurs at work. Industries use a variety of chemicals daily. However, household chemicals can be just as dangerous and must be treated cautiously.
Chemical burns to the eye can be divided into 3 categories: alkali burns, acid burns, and irritants.
The acidity or alkalinity, called the pH, of a substance is measured on a scale from 1-14. The lower the number, the more acid a substance is. The higher the number, the more alkaline. If a substance is neither acid nor alkaline, it is called neutral, and its pH number is 7. |
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| Alkali burns are the most dangerous |
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Alkalis—chemicals that have a high pH—penetrate the surface of the eye and can cause severe injury. In general, the higher the pH, the more damage will occur. Common alkali substances contain the hydroxides of ammonia, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. Substances you may have at home that contain these chemicals include lye, cement, lime, and ammonia.
Acid burns result from chemicals with a low pH and tend to be less severe than alkali burns. The exception is a hydrofluoric acid burn, which is as dangerous as alkali. Acids usually damage the very front of the eye.
Common acids causing eye burns include sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, chromic acid, and hydrofluoric acid.
An automobile battery can explode and cause a sulfuric acid burn. This is one of the most common acidic burns of the eye.
Irritants are substances that have a neutral pH and tend to cause more discomfort to the eye than actual damage. Many household detergents fall into this category, as does pepper spray. Pepper spray is also an irritant. It can cause significant pain but usually does not affect vision and rarely causes any damage to the eye. |
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| Early signs and symptoms of a chemical eye burn |
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Pain |
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Redness |
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Irritation |
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Tearing |
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Inability to keep the eye open |
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The sensation of something in the eye |
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Swelling of the eyelids |
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Blurred vision, usually due to pain or tearing of the eye |
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| What should you do if you have a chemical falling into your eye? |
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Whenever your eye has been exposed to a chemical, wash out the eye right away.
Begin washing your eye before taking any other action and continue for at least 10 minutes. The longer a chemical is in your eye, the more damage will occur. It is extremely important to try to dilute the substance and wash away any particles that may have been in the chemical.
Ideally, in a work setting, you would be placed in an emergency eyewash or shower station and your eye washed with sterile isotonic saline solution. If sterile saline is not available, use cold tap water. If you are at home, step into the shower with your clothes on to wash out your eye.
If your car battery explodes, pour any handy, drinkable liquid into your eye immediately to dilute and wash away the acid. Water is the best liquid to use.
Open your eyelids as wide as possible as you wash.
If an alkali or hydrofluoric acid burn has occurred, continue washing until a doctor arrives or you have been taken to a hospital's Emergency Eye Department.
Any time you experience pain, tearing, redness, irritation, or loss of vision, go to a hospital's Emergency Department for immediate evaluation, even if you believe the chemical is only a mild irritant. |
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All acid or alkali eye burns require immediate treatment and evaluation by a doctor. You should be taken immediately to the closest Emergency Department. |
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If you suspect an alkali or hydrofluoric acid burn, call an ambulance to shorten transport time. All industries are required to keep a Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on any chemicals being used. Find this informa tion and take it with you. |
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| What should you do if you see sudden onset of seeing flashes with floaters? |
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| The sudden onset of many floating spots and flashing lights in association with the feeling that part of the vision is covered by a black curtain or a shade, may represent a retinal tear or detachment. Examination by an ophthalmologist is essential as soon as these symptoms appear. Anyone who has the onset of new floaters with or without flashing lights should be seen by an ophthalmologist for a dilated fundus exam. |
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| If you want more details on Emergency Eye Care Services at Narayana Nethralaya contact, |
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Narayana Nethralaya, at Rajajinagar : +91-80-66661300-1305, +91-80-666611400-1405
Narayana Nethralaya, at Narayana Health City, Hosur Road : +91-80-66660655-0658 |
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