218 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
INJURIES TO THE EYE
All injuries to the eyeball must be considered dangerous, for they may cause
blindness.
Even small cuts on the cornea (the transparent layer covering the pupil and iris) may
get infected and harm the vision if not cared for correctly.
If a wound to the eyeball is so deep that it reaches the black layer beneath the outer
white layer, this is especially dangerous.
If a blunt injury (as with a fist) causes the eyeball to fill with blood, the eye is in
danger (see p. 225). Danger is especially great if pain suddenly gets much worse after
a few days, for this is probably acute glaucoma (p. 222).
Treatment:
♦ If the person still sees well with the injured eye,
put an antibiotic eye ointment (p. 378) in the eye
and cover it with a soft, thick bandage. If the eye
is not better in a day or two, get medical help.
♦ If the person cannot see well with the injured eye,
if the wound is deep, or if there is blood inside
the eye behind the cornea (p. 225), cover the eye
with a clean bandage and go for medical help at
once. Do not press on the eye.
♦ Do not try to remove thorns or splinters that are
tightly stuck in the eyeball. Get medical help.
HOW TO REMOVE A SPECK OF DIRT FROM THE EYE
Have the person close her eyes and look to the left, the right, up and down. Then,
while you hold her eye open, have her look up and then down. This will make the eye
produce more tears and the dirt often comes out by itself.
Or you can try to remove the bit of dirt or sand by flooding the eye with clean water
(p. 219) or by using the corner of a clean cloth or some moist cotton. If the particle of
dirt is under the upper lid, look for it by turning the lid up over a thin stick. The person
should look down while you do this:
The particle is often found in
the small groove near the edge
of the lid. Remove it with the
corner of a clean cloth.
If you cannot get the particle out easily, use an antibiotic eye ointment, cover the eye
with a bandage, and go for medical help.