To avoid eye injuries, just read this article!

Common types of eye injuries

01 Eye contusion

Eye contusions can be caused by direct or indirect hits to the eyes by various objects. Common causes of eye contusions include: stones, snowballs, slingshots, toy guns, fists, various balls (including but not limited to badminton and table tennis), etc.

In mild cases, the symptoms may only include eyelid edema, subcutaneous hematoma or redness of the white of the eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage). In severe cases, the cornea, lens, ciliary body and retina may be damaged, causing cataracts, lens dislocation, glaucoma, intraocular blood accumulation, retinal detachment and even eyeball rupture, leading to irreversible vision damage.

In addition to eyeball injury, eye contusion may also cause orbital fracture, extraocular muscle and optic nerve damage, etc.

02Skin laceration (eyelid laceration)

Children's skin is delicate and can easily be lacerated if it encounters external trauma or collision.

The nerves, muscles and other tissues around the eye have a complex structure. Once damaged, scars may form, affecting the appearance. In severe cases, it may also lead to risks such as ectropion, ptosis, and tear duct rupture.

03 Penetrating eye injury (foreign body in eye)

Sharp objects or small metal or stone fragments flying through the wall of the eyeball can cause penetrating eye injuries or foreign bodies in the eye.

Penetrating eye injuries can cause various eye problems due to the destruction of the injuring object, including damage to various structures within the eye; if foreign objects are embedded in the wall of the eye, it may cause poor wound healing; foreign objects entering the eye and problems with the wound not closing may cause serious infection in the eyeball or orbit, causing serious damage to visual function or even blindness.

04 Chemical injuries to the eyes

Chemical eye injury refers to severe chemical burns to the eyes caused by strong chemical substances coming into contact with the eyes, which is generally common in chemical gases, liquids and dusts.

Although our family does not always have chemicals such as strong acids and alkalis, many common chemicals in life should also attract close attention from parents, such as: food desiccants, glue, household disinfectants and alcohol, oil removal products and toilet cleaners, as well as some external medicines such as athlete's foot water, etc.

Children are very curious. If something accidentally comes into their eyes, it may cause serious damage to the ocular surface or even the intraocular structure, leading to serious vision loss.

05 Fireworks and firecracker injuries

During the Spring Festival every year, ophthalmology emergency departments receive a large number of patients injured by fireworks and firecrackers, and serious cases even face the risk of having their eyeballs removed. Although more and more regions have implemented restrictions on fireworks and firecrackers, such injuries still occur frequently.

Children have limited self-protection and danger judgment abilities, so the most important way to avoid such risks is to stay away from fireworks.

06 Radiation eye injury

All kinds of rays may cause damage to the surface or deep layers of the eye, such as corneal epithelial detachment, radiation cataracts, burns to the retina and even the macular area, etc.

Common radiation eye injuries in children in daily life include ultraviolet reflection injuries from mountains, snow, and water, radiation damage from ultraviolet disinfection lamps, and direct burns from laser pens.

The macula is the most sensitive part of the human eye. Once radiation damage occurs, it often causes irreversible damage to vision.

What to do if an eye injury occurs

Eye injuries often occur in a flash. In addition to affecting the appearance, eye injuries may also cause permanent damage to vision. The emergency treatment of eye injuries is sometimes related to the recovery of the entire injured eye:

1. Once an eye injury occurs, you must go to the hospital as soon as possible to avoid the risks caused by delaying treatment.

2. If a simple skin laceration occurs, the wound should be covered with clean gauze and avoid using paper materials to avoid increasing the amount of foreign matter remaining in the wound.

3. If the eyeball is perforated or ruptured, be sure to avoid pressing or rubbing the eye to avoid secondary damage to the eye.

4. If the cause of eye injury is small metal or stone, you should go to the hospital immediately to eliminate the risk of foreign body in the eye regardless of whether vision loss occurs.

5. If it is a chemical eye injury, you should immediately rinse it with plenty of clean water for at least 15 minutes to reduce the concentration of chemicals as much as possible. Try to bring the outer packaging or instructions of the injury-causing object when seeking medical treatment.

6. In addition, children should avoid drinking water and eating after being injured to create conditions for general anesthesia. After seeing the doctor, the doctor should be provided with detailed information such as the child's injury and allergy history.

The Department of Ophthalmology of the Aier Eye Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University reminds that the Spring Festival is often the peak period of eye injuries throughout the year. While celebrating the festival, parents and friends should not neglect the safety education of their children. Do not let children play with toys that pose safety hazards and avoid accidental injuries from fireworks and firecrackers.

Adults should also pay special attention to purchasing fireworks and firecrackers through formal channels, pay attention to safety when setting them off, and try to avoid human injuries. If you accidentally injure your eyes, seek medical attention immediately and do not handle it on your own!

Strengthening protection awareness

Pay attention to life management

Create a safe environment

Cherish life and stay away from firecrackers

Drink moderately and obey traffic rules

Control emotions and avoid violence

Have a safe holiday together