Where There Is No Doctor 2011 225
BLEEDING IN THE WHITE OF THE EYE
A painless, blood-red patch in the white part of the
eye occasionally appears after lifting something heavy,
coughing hard (as with whooping cough), or being hit
on the eye. The condition results from the bursting of a
small vessel. It is harmless, like a bruise, and will slowly
disappear without treatment in about 2 weeks.
Small red patches are common on the eyes of newborn
babies. No treatment is needed.
BLEEDING BEHIND THE CORNEA (HYPHEMA)
Blood behind the cornea is a danger sign. It
usually results from an injury to the eye with a blunt
object, like a fist. If there is pain and loss of sight,
refer the person to an eye specialist immediately.
If the pain is mild and there is not loss of sight, put
a patch on both eyes and keep the person at rest
in bed for several days. If after a few days the pain
becomes much worse, there is probably hardening of
the eye (glaucoma, p. 222). Take the person to an eye
doctor at once.
PUS BEHIND THE CORNEA (HYPOPYON)
Pus behind the cornea is a sign of severe
inflammation. It is sometimes seen with corneal
ulcers and is a sign that the eye is in danger. Apply
antibiotic eye ointment (p. 378) and get medical
help at once. If the ulcer is treated correctly, the
hypopyon will often clear up by itself.
CATARACT
The lens of the eye, behind the pupil, becomes
cloudy, making the pupil look gray or white when
you shine a light into it. Cataract is common in older
persons, but also occurs, rarely, in babies. If a blind
person with cataracts can still tell light from dark and
notice movement, surgery may let him see again.
However, he will need strong glasses afterward,
which take time to get used to. Medicines do not help
cataracts. (Now sometimes during surgery an artificial
lens is put inside the eye so that strong eyeglasses are
not needed.)