Eye injuries can occur at any time and can be caused by a variety of things.Damage on eye caused by eye injury depends on the cause injury. MLet's identify the cause and how to overcome it eye injury so that you know what steps to take when this occur.
Eye injuries can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging from red eyes, sore or sore eyes, blurred vision, to bleeding in the eye. In the short and long term, eye injuries that are not treated properly can cause permanent vision problems.
Causes of Eye Injury
There are various causes of eye injury. Following are some of them:
1. Foreign body enters the eye
This is the most common cause of eye injury. Foreign objects such as sand, dust, sawdust, metal chips, to glass splinters can enter or get stuck in the eye accidentally. Complaints that are felt can be in the form of a feeling that there is a lump or pain in the eye, watery, red, and sensitive eyes to light.
Foreign bodies can affect the white part of the eye (sclera) or the black part of the eye (cornea). If a foreign object is exposed to the cornea and causes damage (corneal ulcer), the impact on vision becomes greater, because this part is the entrance of light.
2. Eyes hit an object
Impact with a blunt object, such as a fast-moving basketball or baseball hitting the eye, can cause eye injury. Likewise with a hard hit that intentionally or unintentionally hits your eye.
Eye injuries caused by impact can cause a variety of complaints. In minor injuries, the eyelids may swell or bruise. Meanwhile, in severe injuries, bleeding inside the eye and fractures of the bones around the eye can occur, requiring serious treatment from a doctor.
3. Exposure to chemicals
Exposure to chemicals can cause eye injury. However, the degree of damage caused can vary, depending on the type of chemical, how long the chemical is in the eye, and how deep the chemical has entered the eye.
In the case of exposure to chemical vapors, for example, the resulting eye injury may only be eye irritation. However, if the eye is directly exposed to a harsh chemical, such as an alkaline solution such as drain cleaner or bleach, the damage can be severe and deep, leading to blindness.
4. Radiation Exposure
Exposure to ultraviolet light from sunlight or other radiation, for example from radiotherapy, can not only burn the skin, but can also damage the eyes. Eye injuries caused by radiation can cause red eyes, a feeling like something is stuck in the eye, watering, and sensitivity to light.
Even though the complaints are mild, you can't ignore them. In the long term, this eye injury causes cataracts or macular degeneration, which is damage to the part of the eye called the retina.
How to Overcome Eye Injury
Treatment for eye injuries depends on the cause. However, there are steps you can take when you have an eye injury:
1. Norubbing eyes with hands
The first thing you should do when you have an eye injury is not to rub your eyes with your hands. This can cause foreign objects to further damage the eye. In addition, bacteria can enter the eye and trigger an infection in the eye or endophthalmitis.
2. Wash your eyes with water
If you get a foreign object in your eye such as dust and sand, blink repeatedly until you don't feel something is stuck in your eye. If this doesn't work, flush your eyes with running water.
In eye injuries caused by chemicals, washing the eyes under running water is also a first aid that can be done. But after that, you are advised to go to the eye doctor as soon as possible.
3. Compress the eyes
In the case of eye injury due to impact or blow that causes swelling and pain, you can take painkillers and compress the injured eye with a cold compress.
4. Check in withdoctor
If the above steps have been taken but the eye injury does not improve, immediately visit an ophthalmologist. Some conditions that require immediate treatment include:
- Eyes exposed to chemicals
- Eyes are bruised
- Decreased vision
- Double vision
- Severe eye pain
- Torn eyelid
- Pain around the eyes and eyebrows
- Headache
To avoid eye injury, it is recommended that you wear sunglasses when you are outside during the day. You should also wear eye protection if you are doing work where there is a high risk of exposing your eyes to chemicals, metal, wood, or glass chips.
If you have an eye injury, immediately consult the nearest ophthalmologist. The sooner you get treatment, the lower the risk of permanent eye damage.
