Treatment of eye injuries in children

My child is 6 years old and very active. In the past year, he has suffered eye injuries three times, thankfully receiving timely emergency treatment.

My family has recently moved to a new place, far from the hospital. Could you please advise on how to handle eye injuries so that if my child gets injured, we can provide first aid before taking him to the hospital?

Hoang Thanh Mai(Nghe An)

Eye injuries can lead to damage such as corneal or conjunctival tears, ruptured eyeballs, nerve damage, and permanent blindness. In severe cases of infection, it can be fatal. When an eye injury occurs, patients need to be given prompt first aid as follows before being taken to the hospital: If a sharp object punctures the eye causing a tear in the eyelid, do not move or bandage the eye.

Do not attempt to remove any foreign objects or objects lodged in the eye yourself, as this may cause further damage. Absolutely do not open the eyelid to examine the eye, do not rub the eye, and do not apply any unsterilized medication, ice, or other unsterilized objects to the injured eye.

If a foreign object gets into or punctures the eye, immediately apply antibiotic eye drops such as 0.04% chloroxide solution and a sterile bandage. If the eye is burned by chemicals, quickly rinse the eye with saline solution or any clean water. If burned by lime, rinse with concentrated sugar water or syrup because lime reacts with sugar to reduce its harmful effects on the eye; note that distilled water or tap water should not be used because the reaction between water and unslaked lime will cause a thermal reaction that further burns the eye.

Absolutely do not bandage the eye as this can cause adhesions between the eyeball and eyelids. Keep any objects that caused the injury so that doctors can determine the correct course of action. If your child constantly rubs their eyes or complains of blurred vision, or sees twice as clearly as usual, you should take them to the doctor immediately as their eye may be injured.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thu Hien - Health & Life - NT