EYE INJURY
Injury Definition
- Injuries to the eye, eyelid, and area around the eye.
Vision
- The main concern is whether the vision is damaged.
- Older children can tell us if their vision is blurred or out of focus. Test them at home by covering each eye in turn and having them look at a distant object.
- Children less than 5 years old usually need to be examined to rule out serious injuries affecting vision even if the injury seems minor.
See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one) If
- Foreign body present, see EYE, FOREIGN BODY IN.
WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR
Call your doctor now (night or day) if:
- You think your child has a serious injury.
- Vision is blurred or lost in either eye.
- Child reports double vision or unable to look upward.
- Pupils unequal in size or abnormal shape.
- Bloody or cloudy fluid behind the cornea (clear part).
- Object hit the eye at high speed (such as from a lawn mower, golf ball, fireworks).
- Sharp object hit the eye (such as metallic chip).
- Skin is split open or gaping and may need stitches.
- Any cut on the eyelid or eyeball.
- Constant tearing or blinking.
- Child keeps the eye covered or refuses to open it.
- Severe pain.
- Age less than 1 year old.
Call your doctor within 24 hours (between 9am and 4pm) if:
- You think your child needs to be seen.
- Bruises near the eye (such as a black eye or bleeding into the white of the eyeball) in child less than 5 years old.
Call your doctor during weekday office hours if:
- You have other questions or concerns.
Parent care at home if:
- Mild eye injury and you don't think your child needs to be seen.
HOME CARE ADVICE
- Superficial Cuts or Scrapes:
- Apply direct pressure for 10 minutes with a sterile gauze to stop any bleeding.
- Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. (Protect the eye with a clean cloth.)
- Apply antibiotic ointment to cuts. Cover large scrapes with Band-Aid. Change daily.
- Swelling or Bruises with Intact Skin (including a Black Eye):
- Initially, apply a cold pack or ice bag wrapped in a wet cloth to the area for 20 minutes per hour to reduce the bleeding. Repeat for 4 consecutive hours.
- A black eye usually takes 1 to 2 days to develop.
- A flame-shaped bruise of the white of the eyeball is also common. (called a subconjunctival hemorrhage)
- After 48 hours, apply a warm wash cloth for 10 minutes 3 times per day to help reabsorb the blood.
- Pain Medicine: Give acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen as necessary for pain relief.
- Expected Course: Both of these injuries are harmless, last about 2 weeks and cannot be helped by any medicine.
- Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Changes in vision
- Your child becomes worse
And remember, contact your doctor if your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.
REFERENCES
- Brophy M, Sinclair S, Hostetler S, et. al. Pediatric eye injury--related hospitalizations in the United States. Pediatrics. 2006;117:e1263-e1271.
- Catalano RA. Eye injuries and prevention. Pediatr Clin North Am. 1993;40:827-840.
- Hertle RW and Bacal D. Traumatic hyphema: Evaluation and management. Contemp Pediatr. 1997;14(1):51-68.
- Hoffman RO. Evaluating and treating eye injuries. Contemp Pediatr. 1997;14 (14):74-98.
- Kundra M, Mahajan P. Subconjunctival hemorrhages in a teenage boy. Consult Pediatr. 2006;5(11):725-728.
- Rittichier KK, Roback MG, Bassett KE. Are signs and symptoms associated with persistent corneal abrasions in children? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2000;154:370-374.
- Tingley DH. Eye trauma: Corneal abrasions. Pediatr Rev. 1999;20:320-322.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.
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