NOTE:
Remember that the eye is a sensitive structure and the patient will have a
natural tendency to protectively withdraw.
b. Explain to the patient not to squeeze his eyelids together.
NOTE:
Squeezing the eyelids together could cause further damage to the eyeball
(globes).
c. Position the patient. Positioning the patient helps to control pain and bleeding.
(1)
Conscious patient--place him in a sitting position.
(2) Unconscious patient--place him in a supine position. This will help to
prevent pressure from building in the eye.
d. Take precautions to protect the eyeball. Do not touch or remove any
penetrating foreign body protruding from the eyeball.
(1) This will help to prevent the vitreous humor (jelly-like fluid) from leaking
out. The vitreous humor fills the space behind the lens. It also maintains the shape of the
eyeball. Loss of vitreous humor will cause the eyeball to collapse.
(2)
Protruding objects are only removed by surgery.
e. DO NOT push an extruded eyeball back into the socket. It can cause
f. Avoid exerting pressure on the patient's eye. pressure or pressure dressing
may cause additional eyeball damage, forcing out the vitreous humor and/or eyeball to
lose its shape.
NOTE:
A pressure dressing is applied only by a physician's order.
g. Never force open a patient's eyelids when there is severe eye injuries or
indications of severe eye injuries.
NOTE:
The patient may experience little or no pain or the injury may seem to be minor.
The patient may complain of severe pain or will probably squeeze his eyelids
tightly shut.
NOTE:
Remember that force can cause further damage. It is possible that a foreign
body may be in the eye and the object may be attached to the inside of the
eyelid.
MD0547
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