Table of contents
Epidemiology
Types of injuries
Impact of eye injuries on children
Prevention of eye injuries
First aid measures for eye injuries
Eye injuries are the cause of blindness in about half a million people worldwide. Trauma is the most important cause of unilateral loss of vision, particularly in developing countries
90% of eye injuries are preventable and more than 50% of the total injuries occur in patients less than 25 years of age and 34% of them are in the pediatric age group
Some studies have demonstrated that eye injuries tends to be more common and severe amongst children from lower socio economic strata
Injuries can be categorized as blunt injuries, penetrating injuries and chemical injuries. Children may be subjected to these injuries at home, at school and in the playground.
Blunt injuries are due to blunt objects like balls, stones and sticks and rubber bands used as catapults.
Penetrating injuries is usually by sharp and pointed instruments like needles, sticks, pencils, knives, arrows, pens, glass and any object with sharp edges. These injuries are sustained during chopping or cutting wood, hammering metals or nails and carving stone
Children, mostly sustain accidental injuries by rubber bands, needles, pencils, sticks while playing with others.
Chemical injuries are devastating if due to a strong corrosive chemical such as lime which is freely available at home as chunum and white wash for walls and also used in playgrounds to mark boundaries.
Impact of eye injuries on children
Even a minor eye injury in a child can have a negative impact on the visual potential due to the risk of amblyopia. Eye injuries in children cause significant absence from school for the child and financial loss to the parents who have to stay with the due to long term hospital treatment required for these injuries.
Preventing injuries at home and school can minimize pediatric blindness, and have a long term impact on the health of the population.
It is important to increase awareness among the public , especially among the parents and teachers of school children regarding the following areas
- Injuries to the eye and their impact on the life of a child
- The importance of urgent attention to eye injuries
- Prevention of injuries at school and home
- Basic first aid measures for eye injuries to be given in school and home
First aid measures for eye injuries
In case of blunt and penetrating there is a risk of rupture of the globe of the eye with exposure of contents. Therefore it is important not to apply any pressure on the eye. The child ‘s eye should be covered with a sterile eye pad or an eye shield. Washing the eye or instilling drops should not be done. It is important to take the child to the hospital keeping the child fasting in order to facilitate earlyeye surgery if needed.
The first aid management of a chemical injury is totally different. The eye should be thoroughly irrigated with water and any particles on the inner side of lids should be carefully removed with a cotton bud . The aim here is to minimize the time the chemical remains in the eye.