LESSON 4
TREAT LACERATIONS, CONTUSIONS, AND EXTRUSIONS OF THE EYE
4-1.
GENERAL
Treating a patient with eye injuries is very important to him especially on the
battlefield. Loss of sight may cause not only severe pain, but also loss of orientation
(the patient with an eye injury may have totally, or at least partially, lost one of his
senses). You must constantly reassure the patient of what you are doing while treating
him for eye injuries. As a medical specialist, you will treat lacerations, contusions, and
extrusions of the eye, minimizing effect of the injury, and without further injury to the
patient. You should first become familiar with the following terms and their definitions.
4-2.
REVIEW OF TERMS
a. Laceration--jagged tear or wound.
b. Contusion--bruise.
c. Avulsed eye--eye torn from its socket; also called an extruded eyeball, or an
enucleation.
d. Protruding--extending outward.
e. Globe--eyeball.
f. Socket--hollow into which eyeball fits.
g. Sympathetic movement--one eye reacts to the movement of the other eye.
NOTE:
Survey the patient before you begin with the following step and remove his
helmet, if necessary.
4-3.
POSITION THE PATIENT
a. If the patient is conscious, place him in a sitting position.
b. If the patient is unconscious, place him on his back (supine position) with
head slightly higher than the rest of the body.
NOTE:
Ensure the patient's airway is clear.
c. Examine the patient's eyes. Look for signs and symptoms of eye injuries.
MD0547
4-2