Eye Injuries May Lead To Blindness

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30190, 23 July 1963, Page 11

Eye Injuries May Lead To Blindness

Sight depends on the continuing' transparency of what are called the “media” of the eye—-cornea in front, lens behind the pupil and the jelly-like “vitreous” between the lens and retina. The retina itself is a complex layer of nerve cells and fibres that is the seeing part of the eye. Any injury which impairs the transparency of any of the media or damages the delicate retina leads to loss of sight of greater or less degree.

Those who are exposed to Possible iojury to their eyes py the nature of their .work must, by law. be provided . protective goggles Machines which can throw off particles of metal or dust are screened to protect the workers eyes. Pamphlets •nd lectures help to make workmen conscious of any hazard to their eyes inherent in their particular work. ..The general population on the other hand is inclined to be careless about this as about other risks to life and

limb in their ordinary lives. Few people wear goggles whilst drilling or grinding in the garage at home and the lethal effect of a chip flying off a cold chisel hit with a hammer is not sufficiently appreciated. Grinding can only cause superficial eye injury but chips of steel can enter the eye itself. The humble speck of dust in an eye will usually be washed out by the tears or an eyebath or if it has been lodged under the upper lid it can be removed by the well known method of pulling the upper lid down over the lower lid. But if these methods fait attempts should not be made to remove it (or any small foreign body in the eye) with a sharpened match or any other instrument. Neither should unskilled help be accepted because further abrasion to the eye is probable and infection quite likely. A foreign body removed by a doctor after a drop of local anaesthetic and followed by an antibiotic ointment seldom gives subsequent trouble or loss of sight. Contusion injuries are frequent and the causes are leg-1 ion. A blow on the eye by a blunt object or by a ball or stone can cause slight or severe damage and what at first appears to be a slight injury can become serious if untreated.

One of the commonest results of a blunt injury to the eye is the appearance of a small amount of blood in front of the pupil; this usually absorbs in a few days but because further and much more severe hemorrhage sometimes occurs, complete bedrest is necessary for three to five days after an injury, preferably under hospital supervision. . One of the common causes of severe contusion injuries —and sometimes even more serious injuries to the eye is a stone thrown up from a motor mower. No-one should be in the vicinity when a rotary mower is being used and a special responsibility rests on parents of young children in this regard. Several eyes are lost each year in this country from this cause, and the victim is usually a child. Injuries to the eyelids sometimes occur and these often involve tearing of the tear duct; repair is necessary within 24 hours if a permanently watering eye is to be avoided and this repair requires special measures to bring the tom ends of the tear duct together. Finally, chemical irritants can cause eye damage. Strong alkalis and acids damage the cornea and can leave permanent scarring. In this respect alkalis, especially caustic soda, are much worse than acids. An acid coagulates the tissues and this forms a partial barrier to further penetration; an alkali penetrates deeply without coagulation and causes much more severe damage. The treatment of all chemical injuries is initially the same—the nearest water tap within a few seconds is

vastly better than the best doctor half an hour later. It is, however, essential that a doctor be consulted after first aid has been given. To be effective an antidote must be strong enough to neutralise the damaging chemical and penetrate as quickly and as deeply; it is therefore as damaging as the original chemical itself. Dilution with water as quickly as possible is the best treatment. The only exception to this rule is in a laboratory or factory where a specific chemical which happens to have a specific antidote is used — then the antidote is kept in special dispensers which can be used to wash out an eye splashed with the chemical.

This article was prepared for the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind op a senior ophthalmologist.