Eye damage can occur for a variety of reasons. Accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, which are manifested by pain in the eyes, leakage of lacrimal fluid, partial loss of vision, damage to the lens and other unpleasant symptoms. Correct diagnosis, proper treatment and prevention of such an ailment will help remove discomfort.
About damage to the visual apparatus
Injury to the human eye occurs as a result of all kinds of injuries and injuries that affect not only the eyeball, but also the bone bed, as well as the adnexa. Eye injuries can be aggravated by hemorrhage, subcutaneous emphysema, loss of vision, inflammation, prolapse of the intraocular membrane and other troubles.
Diagnosis is carried out by an ophthalmologist. Sometimes other specialists, such as a neurosurgeon, an otolaryngologist, or a surgeon specializing in maxillofacial trauma, may be involved to clarify the diagnosis. Helps to determine the correct picture of the disease by ultrasound and x-rayexaminations, blood and urine tests. Having collected all the results of the examinations together, the doctor prescribes the appropriate treatment.
In men, the eyes are injured in 90% of cases, in women only in 10%. About 60% of the population under the age of 40 get eye damage in one way or another. Of these, 22% are children under the age of 16.
The leading position among injuries of the visual apparatus is the presence of a foreign body in the eyes. In second place are various bruises, blunt injuries and all kinds of concussions. The third place goes to the burn of the vision apparatus.
Types of eye injuries
Damage to the visual apparatus can be different, these are:
- eye injury, divided into penetrating, non-penetrating and penetrating;
- blunt injuries eg contusion, concussion;
- burns, there are thermal and chemical;
- damages that occur due to exposure to infrared and ultraviolet rays.
Eye injuries are also divided into production and non-production by their nature. The former are divided into industrial and agricultural, the latter into household, children's and sports. They are classified according to the localization of the injury: the eye orbit, the appendages of the eyes and the eyeball.
All eye injuries are divided into mild, moderate and severe. The lungs are associated with the ingress of various foreign bodies, burns of I-II degrees, non-penetrating wounds, hematomas, etc.
Injuries of moderate severity are associated with the development of conjunctivitis, clouding of the cornea. It may be a rupture of the eyelid, a burn of the visualapparatus II-III degree of severity. It also includes non-perforated eye wounds.
Severe eye injuries are characterized by a perforated wound of the eyeball. Associated with pronounced tissue imperfections, the occurrence of contusion, which affects up to 50% of the eyeball, with a decrease in the functioning of the visual apparatus, which arose due to a rupture of the eye membrane. These include injury to the lens, orbit, hemorrhage and damage to the retina, as well as burns III-IV degree.
Causes of damage
Wound causes damage to the eye by a branch, fingernail, lens, piece of clothing and other hard objects.
Blunt injuries occur when a large voluminous object hits the eyeball. It can be a fist, a stone, a ball and others. Such damage can occur when falling on a hard object. Wounds of this type are accompanied by hemorrhage, fractures of the orbital walls, contusion. May accompany traumatic brain injury.
Penetrating wounds are formed due to mechanical impact on the eyelids or the eyeball with a sharp hard object. As a rule, these are stationery or cutlery items, wooden, glass and metal fragments. These injuries are often associated with the penetration of a foreign body into the eye apparatus.
The main causes of eye damage are:
- penetration of a foreign object;
- mechanical action;
- thermal and chemical burns;
- frostbite;
- contact with chemicalsconnections;
- infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
Symptomatics
Injuries to the eyes from a penetrating wound are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- perforating wound on the cornea;
- loss of the insides of the shell of the eye apparatus;
- outflow of intraocular fluid through injured tissue;
- damage to the lens or iris;
- foreign object inside the eyes;
- an air bubble that entered the vitreous body.
The relative symptoms of a penetrating wound include hypotension, transformation of the depth of the anterior chamber. There is a hemorrhage in the eyeball, anterior chamber, hemophthalmus, retina or choroid. There are ruptures of the iris, deformation of the parameters of the pupil and its shape, as well as iridodialysis and aniridia of the iris. Traumatic cataract, dislocation or partial subluxation of the lens is possible.
These and other symptoms allow you to determine the degree of eye damage and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Injury First Aid
If the eyes are damaged, the following rules should be observed:
- Don't rub your eyes.
- Don't touch the injured area with dirty hands.
- It is forbidden to put pressure on the eyelids.
- It is not recommended to independently remove a foreign object that is in the sclera or even deeper.
- If the wound is penetrating, it is forbidden to wash the eyes.
- not for chemical burns or eye damageuse baking soda to rinse.
- Painting drops are prohibited.
- A medical eye patch should not have a cotton base, but only a bandage.
In case of damage to the eyes, one should not self-medicate, as this may threaten partial or complete loss of vision. If the foreign body in the eye is on the surface and has not penetrated inside, then you can get it yourself. To do this, the lower eyelid is pulled back and the object is taken out, and the eye apparatus is washed with clean water. After this procedure, drops with an anti-inflammatory effect are dripped into the eyes.
If there is bruising, dry cold is applied. These are objects made of spherical metal, as well as cold and frozen foods that must first be wrapped in polyethylene.
First aid for eye burns of chemical origin is to remove the source that caused the injury. Drops for eye burns should contain both an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory substance. If the eyes are damaged due to the contact with hot hot oil or fat, then the eyes should be washed. The injured area is covered with a napkin for a while, and a cold compress is applied on top. If there is a strong pain syndrome, then you can drink an analgesic.
Infrared and ultraviolet burns are treated with anti-inflammatory drops, and then cold is applied to the damaged area. With a penetrating wound, the eyes are given rest, and the injury site is covered with a napkin. When bleeding, the bandage is sealed with cotton.
If a foreign objectstuck deep, then the eye should be kept still and the head fixed. In the periorbital zone, remove all foreign bodies lying on the surface, without affecting the injured part.
For ambulance with eye damage, drops such as Levomycetin, Sulfacyl sodium and Albucid are used. Together with drops, you can use tetracycline ointment, "Floxal". If the wound is large, then a medical eye patch should be applied to both eyes. If a foreign body is present, a tetanus toxoid injection is given, antibiotics are prescribed.
Diagnosis of disease
Injury to the cornea, like other eye injuries, is diagnosed by ophthalmologists. The doctor examines the eye for the presence of foreign bodies and wounds. Allows for bleeding.
Visual acuity and perimetry are detected. The cornea is checked for sensitivity and damage. The doctor measures intraocular pressure. Takes into account the presence of such secondary factors as hypotension and hypertension.
When damaged, the eye apparatus is examined for the presence of foreign solid bodies. Opacification of the lens and the degree of injury to the vitreous body are taken into account. To search for foreign objects, the specialist can twist the upper eyelid. For a more thorough examination, the doctor uses fluorescein, as well as a slit lamp. At this stage, biomicroscopy is performed. The doctor pays attention to the condition of the eye chamber, ophthalmoscopy. A 2-plane x-ray of the orbit is often ordered to ascertain theabsence of bone trauma and foreign body.
In addition to these examinations, computed tomography, ultrasound, fluorescein angiography, blood and urine tests may be prescribed. In some cases, the help of additional specialists is required, such as a neurosurgeon, therapist, traumatologist.
According to the results of the examination, a clinical picture of the disease is created and treatment is prescribed.
Eye injury: treatment
Therapy is carried out according to the results of the diagnosis and depends on the type of injury. Bruising of the eye apparatus in some cases is treated on an outpatient basis. It is enough to apply cold to the injured area. After that, disinfectant drops should be dripped into the eyes. If there is severe pain, then an anesthetic is allowed. You definitely need to see a doctor. As a result of the diagnosis, he can prescribe hemostatics, such as Etamzilat and Dicinon, and prescribe calcium and iodine to maintain he alth. To improve trophism, Emoxypin is injected under the eye.
If a foreign object gets into the eye, only a doctor should remove it. He first anesthetizes the injured area, and then removes foreign bodies with an injection needle. Prescribes anti-inflammatory drops and antibacterial ointment.
In case of concussion, the first thing to do is apply cold to the wound. Assign:
- bed rest;
- hemostatics to prevent bleeding;
- diuretics, have diuretic properties and eliminate swelling;
- antibiotics;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- physiotherapy.
Penetrating eye wounds are treated with antibiotics such as Floxal or Tobrex. Penicillin preparations may be used. With such an injury, a binocular bandage is applied. Painkillers are prescribed. Enter the serum from tetanus. Inpatient treatment indicated.
Treatment of a burn is carried out depending on the severity of the disease. At grade I, anti-inflammatory drops and outpatient therapy are prescribed, at grade II, treatment takes place in a hospital. Applied conservative therapy. If the eye burn has reached III-IV degree, then surgical intervention is indicated. Self-treatment for eye burns should be completely excluded.
Injury to the cornea of the eye does not require special treatment. It is enough to wash the eyes with an herbal solution, and then use the means that activate tissue regeneration, keratoprotectors.
Injury to the cornea of the eye does not require special treatment. It is enough to wash the eyes with an herbal solution, and then use the means that activate tissue regeneration, keratoprotectors.
Popular eye drops
Drops for eye injury are the first remedy. They have the most beneficial effect on the injured organ. Accelerate recovery. Despite this, they should not be dripped without a doctor's prescription. Below is a list of the most effective eye medications:
- "Vitasik". The tool is designed to restore damaged tissues. Helps to preserve the mucous membranes in case of damage to the eyes of variouscharacter.
- "Balarpan-N". Contains substances that are close in composition to the tissue in the cornea. The medicine has restorative and wound-healing properties. Combats excessive dryness in the eye. Helps to adapt to lenses. It can be used in the treatment of erosions, conjunctivitis, burns, keratitis and other damage to the eye apparatus. The drug is used in postoperative therapy.
- "Hyphenes". The drug is characterized by a protective, nourishing and moisturizing quality. Participates in the processes of regeneration of the tear film. Helps to remove discomfort in the eyes, including the effect of "sand in the eyes". Helps corneal tissues heal faster after surgery. Effective for burns of various origins and other injuries. Removes "dry eye syndrome", as well as fatigue and burning sensation.
- "Solcoseryl". The medicine is produced in the form of a gel. Stimulates metabolism, improves the delivery of oxygen and minerals to tissues. Accelerates regeneration and wound healing process. Recommended for burns, mechanical injuries. It is used in the postoperative period for the speedy healing of scars.
- Korneregel. Contains the active substance dexpanthenol. Accelerates the regeneration of mucous membranes. Eliminates burning and dryness. Has a wide range of applications. It is used for burns, eye diseases of an infectious nature, as well as in the treatment of erosion on the cornea.
Consequences
Mechanical damage to the eyes, like other injuries of the visual apparatus, can have various consequences. Among them:
- Endophthalmitis -a disease accompanied by a purulent inflammatory process. Often provokes partial loss of vision. Accompanied by general malaise, swelling of the eyelids, fever, conjunctivitis. Against the background of this disease, hyperemia of the eyelids, an abscess of the lens can develop. The disease occurs with a penetrating type of damage.
- Panophthalmitis - inflammation of the mucous membranes of the visual apparatus. It provokes the occurrence of a number of infections, including staphylococcal. May cause blindness. The disease is life threatening.
- Sympathetic ophthalmia - appears as a result of a wound in the adjacent eye. The main symptoms of the disease are non-purulent inflammation, photophobia, pain. Appears two months after the injury.
In addition, damage to the visual apparatus can impair vision, cause eyelid ptosis, sepsis, brain abscess. With some injuries, you can even lose an eye.
Eye injuries can have a variety of origins. Depending on the type of damage, treatment is prescribed.
Prevention measures
To avoid the need to treat the eyes, they should be protected. Most eye injuries occur at work, especially among people whose occupations involve agriculture, as well as among carpenters, metalworkers, blacksmiths, welders and turners.
If necessary, wear goggles to protect your eyes from mechanical damage, follow safety rules. At work and at home, wet cleaning should be done more often, as dust adversely affectsactivity of the visual apparatus.
Always try to work in a room with good lighting. Corrosive and poisonous chemicals should be handled with extreme caution.
You need to listen to yourself. If you feel unwell, try to relax more and not do household chores. Avoid strong light at all costs and protect your eyes from UV rays.
It will not be superfluous to observe hygiene, use only high-quality cosmetics for eye care. You should try in every possible way to support the work of the visual apparatus, give your eyes a rest, take vitamins and eat a balanced diet.
Do not forget that timely prevention of eye diseases will help maintain good vision for many years.
