Why You Need Eye-Protectors

Potential ocular hazards, such as flying particles and chemical splashes, should be eliminated or controlled at source. However, if this is not possible, the appropriate type of eye-protection must be provided and worn.

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Causes Of Perforating Eye Injury

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Perforating ocular injury simply means double laceration (a cut of a tissue or the act of tearing a tissue) of the eye wall due to entrance and exist wound caused by a sharp objects.

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What Are The Causes Of Chemical Eye Injuries And How Can It Be Treated And Controlled

Most chemicals harm the eyes by direct contact with the external ocular tissues; these are amongst the most urgent ocular emergencies.

Concentratedsulphuric acid from exploding car batteries, household bleaches, detergents, disinfectants and lime are examples of chemicals that can cause burns to the eyes. However, it should not be forgotten that chemicals can also cause damage to the internal ocular structures, e.g. retina and optic nerve, through systemic absorption. 

Direct effect of chemicals

The main groups off chemicals that produce damage and that may be in the form of gas, vapor  liquid or solid are: organic solvents, surfactants, irritants and allergens, aerosols, alkali and acids.

Recommended: HazardousChemicals That Damage The Eyes

Indirect effects of chemicals

Chemicals come in various forms (solid, liquid, powder, dust, mist or vapor  and some can be toxic to the eye if they are accidentally ingested, absorbed or inhaled. Neurotoxic agents, such as organic solvents and heavy metals and their salts and alcohols, can cause optic neuritis or other ocular toxicities.

Treatment of chemical trauma

The ideal method of treatment is to neutralize the chemical. As this is often not possible and as time may be lost looking for the appropriate solution, immediate and prolonged irrigation of the eye with water or saline should be carried out. The faster the chemical is diluted, the better the prognosis. Water fountains, showers, etc. should be available in areas where chemicals are being used so that accidental spills or splashes of chemicals can be dowsed immediately with water.

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Recommended: Acid and Alkali Chemical Eye Injury

Irrigation should be continued for at least 20 minutes and the eye should not be padded, so that the tears continue to wash out any residual chemical. Any chemical particles that remain should also be removed. Various solutions are recommended for lime, mortar and plaster, including 11 percent disodium edetate, 10 percent ammonium tartrate, 10 percent glucose solution. For other alkali injuries, 2 percent boric acid or 2 percent acetic acid solutions are advised. For acid burns, 3.5 percent, sodium bicarbonate solution is advised.

In industries, an injured employee should be referred to the casualty department of the local hospital for further irrigation. Treatment then depends on the severity of the burn. In mild cases it may involve the instillation of topical antibiotics to prevent secondary infection and a mydriatic to dilate the pupil. The use of topical steroids is controversial. Whilst they have a beneficial effect in reducing the inflammatory reaction, they can retard the repair processes and hence lead to corneal melting and perforation.

In cases of alkali burns, citric acid has been shown to reduce the incidence of corneal ulceration in experiments by inhibiting polymorphs. Collagenase inhibiting, such as L-cysteine, have also been reported to have a beneficial effect in preventing ulcers in alkali burned corneas. The fitting of a scleral contact lens may help prevent adhesions of the bulbar and palpebral conjunctiva, i.e. symblepharon. A full thickness corneal graft may be necessary if the cornea is opaque but the prognosis is poor, especially if the cornea is vascularized.

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Hazardous Chemicals That Damage The Eyes And How To Know Them

As it will be explained in our next post; causes of chemical eye injuries, there are six main groups of chemicals that damage the eyes and they include: organic solvents, surfactants, irritants and allergens, aerosols, acids and alkali.

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Acid and Alkali Chemical Eye Burn

Acids

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The severity of the acid burn depends on the concentration of the chemical, the duration of the exposure and the PH of the solution. Inorganic acids include sulphuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid.

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Posterior Segment Damage In Contusion Eye Injury

Damage to the posterior segment may initially be obscured from direct view by a hyphaema. The damage that may occur to the retina after contusion includes the following:

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Anterior Segment Damage In Contusion Eye Injury

Damage to the anterior segment may result in corneal abrasions, hyphaema and associated damage to the ciliary body, iris or lens. Secondary complications, such as recurrent bleeding, uveitis and abnormal intra-ocular pressure may also occur.

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Eye Structures Involved In Contusion Ocular Injury

Contusion simply means any mechanical injury resulting in hemorrhage beneath unbroken skin. In the eye, contusion injury may result from a variety of causes, e.g. flying blunt objects (for example a squash ball), falling objects, the individual falling, explosions or compressed air accidents, fluid under pressure escaping from burst pipes, or water jets from fire hoses.

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Eye Protection Programme: Identification, Elimination and Control Of Ocular Hazards: Part II

Implementation of the programme

It is important that the eye protection programme is carried out correctly; incorrect administration could result in a work environment that is more hazardous than that found initially. Depending on the findings of the plant survey the following actions may be necessary:

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Eye Protection Programme: Identification, Elimination and Control Of Ocular Hazards: Part I

In the past the safety of the employee was normally considered to be the employee’s responsibility and little liability was placed upon the employer. However, in more recent years the trend has been reversed and the employer is primarily responsible for the safety of the employees.

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The Role Of An Optometrist In Prevention Of Ocular Injury

The optometrist has an important role to play in prevention of eye injuries. In practice, a thorough history of patients should be taken and a detailed analysis of the visual requirements made.

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Incidence Of Ocular Injury At Home, Sport Arena And Work Place

While in the past eye injuries have been associated with industrial occupations, there are now an increasing number due to sports and leisure activities. Obviously the number of eye injuries caused by industrial accidents will vary according to the level of industrialization in the area concerned.

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