OCULAR FIRST AID

 

Sunkanmi Arogbokun OD.

I attended a Nursery school that had this wooden coffer called first aid box in an office of a man we called Uncle Joe. Every injured pupil is taken to the Ghanaian, who will apply medications to the region of the body affected and sometimes dispenses pills, the person is either sent back to his/her classroom or spent the rest of the day in the headmaster’ office. Many a times, back then I wonder if Uncle Joe was a doctor or how come these injured pupils are not sent straight to the hospital? 

 

Accident is an unfortunate incident that happen unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury. (Oxford dictionary) Just as accident is unplanned, therefore are the medical intervention that could be provided at the accident locale. However, first aid happens to be the first and immediate assistance given to a person suffering from either a minor or serious illness or injury. Due to the theme of our publication, we will be looking at first aid in the sphere of ocular trauma. Ocular first aid is first of interventions given to someone who suffered an eye trauma. common causes of eye injuries; blow, flying pieces of object and chemical splashes. These procedures are majorly done outside the clinic before injured person is brought to the clinic. 

Common Symptoms of Eye Injuries

• Pain 
• Hyperemia of ocular surface 
• Swelling of ocular structures 
• Decreased vision 
• Lacerated eyelid 
• Poor or no movement of the eye 
• Proptosis 
• Anisocoria 
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage 
• Foreign body in the eye (Dan T. G 2021)

I will be looking at ocular first aids based on these classifications of trauma;

• Chemical burn 
• Foreign object 
• Blows to the eye 
• Cuts or puncture wounds on the eye or lids.

Chemical burn 

• Immediately flush the eye with plenty clean water. 
• Seek emergency medical treatment immediately. 
• Look out for information on the chemical that got into the eye. 

Foreign object 

• Do not rub the eye. 
• Blink several times and allow tears to flush out the particle.
• Use eye wash or running tap water to flush the eye out. 

Blows to the eye 

• Gently place a cold compress over your eye in 5 to 10minutes intervals. (do not place ice directly on the skin. Instead use a cloth in between the ice and the skin) 
• Seek emergency medical treatment immediately. 

Cuts or puncture wounds on the eye or lids

• Do not wash the eye or lid.  
• If there is an object embedded in your eyes do not remove it. Doing so might cause further damage. Cover the eye with an eye shield. If you that have one available place the bottom half of a paper cup over the affected eye and tape over it gently to your face. 
• Seek prompt medical attention.