Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

7 Bleeding, Wound Care and Trauma

Eye injuries The eye is can be easily damaged and an injury to the eyelid can mean severe injury to the eye itself. An eye injury can include a scratch, cut, foreign objects in the eye, thermal/chemical burns, or forceful trauma. Any of these conditions can result in permanent disability or loss of sight. Bruising around the eye is usually caused by blunt trauma to the area although certain skull fractures may cause this as well (See Muscular and Skeletal Injury, Chapter 8). Damage to the eye can occur from the pressure of damaged, swollen tissue around it. Blood in the front of the eye is usually the result of direct trauma from a blunt object. Chemical injury to the eye can occur in the workplace or home. Common items such as lawn and garden chemicals or cleaning products can damage the eye by direct contact or by fumes.

Acid in cleaners or batteries can also damage the eye by direct contact or fumes. Alkaline substances such as lime, lye, and drain cleaners are especially dangerous, often causing permanent damage to the cornea , the transparent tissue at the front of the eye. It is critical to flush the eye with clean water or saline solution while getting immediate medical help. Foreign objects can easily enter the eye. Dust, sand, dirt, or debris can become lodged on the eye or under the eyelid causing discomfort and irritation. The eye can become red and tissue around the eye inflamed and swollen. The body’s natural response is to flush the irritant away with tears, but this may not work. A foreign object can harm vision if the object enters the eye itself or damages the surface of the eye. Small objects moving at high speed such as particles thrown from cutting or grinding equipment and machinery have a high risk of damaging the eye.

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