View Full Version : Don't ignore your eyes
Well I suppose that would be difficult to do. :D Went to a co-worker's summer cabin on Saturday...I swear a bug flew right into my left eye, outer corner. Wasn't sure...at the time I thought it could have been ash from the fire.
Flushed the eye, still felt like something was in it, it was semi swollen and really (I mean really) irritated. Itched a lot as well. So yesterday I flushed it a few more times, with bottled spring water, then put moisturizing drops in it. Fashioned an eye patch from a sleep mask because I figured something got scratched somewhere and it would be best not to keep blinking. No, I didn't take pictures. :p
This morning it was "better" but not normal so I went to the eye doc, he examines me and pulls out something (we don't really know what, but it was long!} that had lodged itself into my upper eyelid. He said it could have been a piece of a bug. Or a shard of some sort... Scratched the cornea a bit, but not too bad.
Antibiotic eye drops are already making a difference in just a few hours.
Next time you think you just got a little dust (or bug :D ) in your eye...might want to consider visiting your eye clinic.
BTDT!
Bugs in the eye suck, and eyeball pain is a special hellish experience.
I had a skeeter make a kamikaze run into one of my eyes 2 years ago while I was at Scout camp with my son. It took me all of about 45 minutes to decide it was worth the 4 hour round trip to an ER to get it out.
The 18 y/o first-aid trained "nurse" at the camp offered to try to pull bug parts out from my eye with tweezers when flushing didn't resolve the issues. I politely declined. There was no way I was letting anyone without MD or DO after their name mess with my eyeball with anything hard and pointy. I would have preferred an ophthalmologist or optometrist, but the rural ER doc was my only option.
I have had a couple of similar experiences since with other foreign objects
FYI, they make ophthalmic Toradol, and it works wonders for the discomfort that lingers after the foreign object is removed. A lot of non-eye docs don't seem to know of it's existence, however. Tell them to look it up if they aren't familiar with it if you ever find yourself in similar circumstances again. One brand name is Acular.
FYI, they make ophthalmic Toradol, and it works wonders for the discomfort that lingers after the foreign object is removed. A lot of non-eye docs don't seem to know of it's existence, however. Tell them to look it up if they aren't familiar with it if you ever find yourself in similar circumstances again. One brand name is Acular.
Thanks for the scoop. Actually after the removal I had no real discomfort...the numbing agent wore off slowly. But I will keep that in my noggin' in case it happens again.
swatsurgeon
09-20-2011, 17:01
should always carry saline in your kit as an eyewash......lesson learned the hard way, eye pain/problems suck!!!
should always carry saline in your kit as an eyewash......lesson learned the hard way, eye pain/problems suck!!!
Actually I had saline drops with me, the damned thing was literally stuck in between my eyelid and eyeball...I must have flushed 10 - 15 times to try and get it out. My eye doc told me I would never have gotten it out, the way it had lodged itself.
It's a tad sore where he pulled it out but is really much better.
Well I suppose that would be difficult to do. :D
Not to hi-jack..
My mom graduated with 13 in her nursing class of 1944.
Mom & 3 are still alive.
All have cataracts, glaucoma, & macular..
None ever wore sunglasses...
Watch your eyes,, 30 yrs from now, you will not have a choice...
Nuff Said???
DJ Urbanovsky
09-21-2011, 08:04
Glad to hear you're on the mend, Gypsy.
I'm a huge proponent of safety rated glasses. Even sunglasses. The moment I set foot in my shop, the glasses go on. And they stay on until I'm finished for the day.
When there is a problem with your eyes, it behooves one not to screw around. Your eyes are irreplaceable.
Bill Harsey
09-21-2011, 08:54
Glad to hear you're on the mend, Gypsy.
I'm a huge proponent of safety rated glasses. Even sunglasses. The moment I set foot in my shop, the glasses go on. And they stay on until I'm finished for the day.
When there is a problem with your eyes, it behooves one not to screw around. Your eyes are irreplaceable.
D.j.,
Eyes are replaceable but then ya have the care and feeding of the new dog.
swatsurgeon
09-21-2011, 12:34
Here's some tips for eye care:
- wear something in front of your eyes as often as possible
- if you work in an environment that poses a risk to your eyes, take all possible precautions, all of the time
- if you get something in your eye.....DON'T RUB IT (which is the first instinct I know) but irrigate ASAP. Try to minimize blinking by keeping it closed..just do the best you can under very difficult conditions.
- if you still have the sensation of a foreign body after irrigating, see someone about it.
- DO NOT numb your own eye..it could mask a huge problem and allow it to get worse
- corneal abrasions are not benign.. Can develop corneal ulcers or lacerations or it could be a penetration into the eye.
- binocular vision is a precious commodity...you have to protect it
- monocular vision works but is less forgiving for certain duties and really screws with a sense of overall awareness.
Just a few tips as a public service announcement.
ss
Put a patch over your eye before you get something in it, Gyp, gosh!
Not to hi-jack..
My mom graduated with 13 in her nursing class of 1944.
Mom & 3 are still alive.
All have cataracts, glaucoma, & macular..
None ever wore sunglasses...
Watch your eyes,, 30 yrs from now, you will not have a choice...
Nuff Said???
Absolutely, I ALWAYS wear sunglasses even when it is cloudy. I don't if it is dark out...
Put a patch over your eye before you get something in it, Gyp, gosh!
D'oh! Maybe I need those wrap around sunglasses... :D