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Work Related Eye Injuries
Treatment of Work Related Eye Injuries
First aid at the workplace Specific treatment depending on the type of injury Basic ocular first aid should be given immediately at the workplace. First aid includes protecting the worker from further injury, instilling a topical anesthetic, and, when indicated (eg, for chemical injuries or burns, injuries with possible occult foreign bodies), liberally irrigating the eye with tap water. Special irrigating fluids are not necessary, and irrigation should not be delayed to obtain any irrigation fluid. For chemical exposures, irrigation should not be delayed to remove contact lenses. Irrigation usually causes contact lenses to be flushed out. Applying a Morgan lens to the eye facilitates prolonged irrigation. For ocular burns or chemical exposures, immediately begin irrigation using tap water. After ocular first aid is given at the worksite, patients with work-related eye injuries should be promptly referred to a hospital emergency department because worksite clinics may lack practitioners with expertise, equipment needed to accurately evaluate these injuries, and resources to refer workers to knowledgeable ophthalmologists. For chemical exposures, irrigation should usually continue during patient transport, particularly for alkali or hydrofluoric acid burns. Specific injuries are treated similarly to non–work-related eye injuries. Orbital compartment syndrome may require How To Do Lateral Canthotomy . 