Some eye injuries cannot be treated promptly, resulting in permanent damage and loss of vision. In some simple injuries, only follow-up and preventive drops are sufficient.
What are Eye Injuries?
Major eye traumas:
- Irritation and scratches in the eye
- Perforating injuries
- Chemical burns
- Swelling
- Hemorrhages
- Traumatic iritis (intraocular inflammations)
- Intraocular hemorrhages
- Fractures of the base of the eye
- We can count them as light screen damages.
What Should Be Considered?
It can be caused by something that catches the eye or foreign matter such as dust and sand getting into the eye. During operations with metal objects (cutting, welding, nailing, etc.), the splashed metal part also burns the cornea because it is hot. The foreign body that gets into the eye adheres to the cornea or under the upper lid. This is a very disturbing picture. Eye stinging, redness and sensitivity to light occur. In this case, scratching and rubbing the eye irritates the cornea more. If we think that a foreign body has entered the eye, the eye should be closed and an ophthalmologist should be consulted quickly. This type of clinical picture is usually completely resolved by removing the foreign body with a local anesthetic drop, cleaning the cornea, closing the eye for 24 hours with an antibiotic ointment. If left untreated, infection is a particularly serious risk and may result in permanent vision loss.
- Perforating Eye Injuries or Intraocular Foreign Body
This type of injury requires immediate surgical intervention. Especially in penetrating injuries, eye physiology deteriorates rapidly. Sometimes the patient may not realize that his eye is pierced. If a small metal object jumps and enters the eye rapidly; If the lens is not touched and there is not much bleeding, vision may not deteriorate in the first stage and there may be no pain. However, metals such as iron and copper in particular have a very rapid toxic reaction in the eye within 2-3 days and can cause irreversible damage up to blindness. Sometimes the metal object is stuck in the cornea but does not pierce the eye. In this case, the foreign body should be removed quickly so that it does not leave a permanent corneal stain.
The appearance of this type of injury Symptoms include stinging sensation, severe pain, redness, decreased vision, conjunctivitis, light sensitivity, tearing, discharge, foreign body sensation. Sometimes the patient cannot open his eyes at all or complains of severe vision loss. While acid burns in chemical burns on the eye usually heal with a simple wash and short-term treatment, alkaline burns are much more dangerous. Sometimes it results in permanent damage despite intensive treatment. As soon as there is a chemical trauma in the eye, the eye should be washed with plenty of water. If there is no one who can do this, it should be washed with tap water for 10-15 minutes with the eye open. Such an early intervention can prevent many serious permanent damage in the future. During the treatment phase, the type and name of the chemical that comes into the eye should be told to the doctor. This is also very important in terms of planning the treatment.
It is the simplest and safest trauma of the eye, which usually frightens patients visually, but often does not even require treatment. This occurs as a result of a vascular rupture. It usually resolves spontaneously within 10 days. In recurrent bleeding, the patient should be investigated for a blood disease, hypertension, diabetes.
Iris is the name given to the colored part of the eye. There may be a tear, paralysis or non-microbial inflammation in this section after trauma. This inflammation can sometimes result in permanent damage despite medical treatment.
- Intraocular Hemorrhage and Fractures
Strong bleeding is the result of trauma. If the bleeding is severe, there is a visual loss that has regressed to the level of light sensation. The most prominent finding in base of eye fractures is double vision. Always contact an ophthalmologist when there is a trauma to the eye. Act according to the recommendations you get from him. Especially in chemical traumas, the time to reach the doctor may be too late for treatment. Washing the eye with plenty of water in the early period can greatly reduce the harmful effects of trauma. Prolonged contact may cause irreversible permanent damage. Eye injuries in children should be examined under a different heading. Since young children cannot express their complaints fully, redness of the eye, watering, bleeding in the white part of the eye, clouding of the cornea layer, swelling of the eyelid, inability to open the eye, sensitivity to light Complaints such as tinnitus can be a harbinger of any eye trauma. Young babies can scratch the eyelid or eye with their fingernails. In fact, this is a greater risk factor for mothers than for the baby. Therefore, nails should be cut before they grow and gloves should be used. When the baby is a little older, blunt trauma with toys and sand in the eye are the most common causes of trauma. Perfume bottles, deodorants, tube adhesives, household cleaning materials are serious risk factors for children. If there are any of the aforementioned complaints, the child must be shown to the doctor.
- Trauma with a screen device
Computers are the cause of one of the most important eye traumas today. Computers and cell phones have become an integral part of schoolchildren, even preschool children. For this reason;
- Is computer use bad for children's eyes?
- Does computer affect child's school performance good/bad?
- Should children wear safety glasses for computer? Questions such as these have become very common.
Research on using computers; shows that it increases the success of preschool children in the future school period. But overdoing it brings with it other problems. Ergonomic problems and computer-related eye disorders occur in children who spend a long time in front of the screen. This is equally true for adults. Other potential risk; It is excessive exposure to harmful blue light in those who spend a long time in front of the screen. This light is present in all digital devices with a display.
It is called High-energy visible light (HEV light) or blue light. It increases the risk of macular degeneration (yellow spot disease) in advanced ages. It is much higher in the sun but should be considered a serious risk given the exposure time to screen light. Many experts and families believe that using computers also has an effect on the progression of myopia. Many studies on this subject show that using a computer or screen alone does not have a significant effect on the emergence of myopia. But there are many studies showing that it accelerates the increase of myopia. Therefore, children's knowledge It is extremely important to use the settings in a controlled manner within a program.
How to Reduce the Risk of Vision Problems?
Unfortunately, computers, tablets and mobile phones are increasingly taking place in our lives. If the child already wears glasses, replacing the glasses with one with a blue filter will help solve the problem. . These lenses are very lightly colored and can be worn during any activity. Today, many glass companies produce eyeglass lenses with this type of feature. In some glasses with antireflective coating, if they are specially designed, they have a protective feature from blue light.
The risk that arises in the earliest period is ergonomic problems. It is important for children to maintain their spine health and sit comfortably while using the computer. The characteristic of this position is:
- Head should be balanced on the neck,
- Should not lean forward or back,
- The computer screen should be 15 degrees below eye level,
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- Straight back,
- Shoulders should be back but relaxed,
- Don't lean over keyboard,
- Forearms should be close to body and relaxed ,
- It should not be far from the body and lean forward,
- Forearm should lie flat on the table,
- Wrist should not be bent too much,
- Hand and forearms should be almost in line,
- Feet should be flat on the ground or if there is a legroom
- Knees should be at a 90 degree angle.
The specialist recommends getting away from the computer every 20 -30 minutes, standing up and stretching, this provides relaxation in the muscles, helps to reduce vision and ergonomics problems.
How Can Myopia Risk Be Reduced?
In Childhood The most important factor in the formation of myopia is hereditary characteristics. Some studies show that straining the eye in childhood, especially excessive computer use, accelerates myopia. Experts agree that computer use is more tiring for the eyes than screened devices compared to reading a book or newspaper. Studies have shown that using a computer alone or reading a lot does not reveal myopia. stered. However, if the child has the appropriate genetic background, these genes, which are not normally dominant, can be activated by computer or intense close work and accelerate the increase in myopia.
It is important to take frequent breaks from work. Every 20 minutes, look away (5 meters and beyond) for at least 10 seconds and then continue to use. This simple exercise relaxes the adapting eye muscles and relaxes the eye.
Some simple precautions in childhood can protect children from the harmful effects of computers. Computer; Art, books, music, outdoor activities, theater, play with other children should be supportive of things such as entertainment and should not replace them. Families should be interested in their children, guide the use of computers, answer their questions and communicate, and encourage the child to work with their siblings or friends as much as possible while using the computer. Working together helps the child learn the ability to listen, speak during and on time, and cooperation.
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