EYE CONTUSION OR LACERATION |
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DESCRIPTIONEye contusions or lacerations are injuries to the eye, including blunt injuries (contusions) or cuts (lacerations). The eyeball, eyelid, bones around the eyeball (eye socket), and muscles attached to the eyeball are involved.
Appropriate health care includes:
Physician's monitoring of general condition, medications, and treatment, which may include suturing a laceration.
Self-care after treatment.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
Swelling, redness, tenderness, pain, bleeding, or bruising ("black eye") in or around the child's eye.
Change in ability to see clearly.
CAUSES
A blunt or sharp blow or cut to the child's eye or surrounding structures.
RISK FACTORS
Activities that expose your child's eye to injury, such as athletics or carpentry.
Eye injuries often occur in fights. Fights are more likely with alcohol consumption or in hostile environments that foster aggression.
PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS OR RECURRENCEYour child should wear protective eye coverings, if possible, for any exposure to eye injury.
BASIC INFORMATION
MEDICAL TESTS
Your own observation of symptoms.
Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
X-rays of bone surrounding the child's eye.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Permanent vision loss.
Infection.
PROBABLE OUTCOME
Usually curable with treatment to prevent infection. Suturing of lacerations in and around the child's eye is often necessary. Sutures are usually removed in about 7 days. Allow 2 weeks for complete healing.
TREATMENT
HOME CAREInstructions for your child:
Protect your eyes from bright light or sunlight by wearing dark glasses temporarily.
Use ice packs or warm moist compresses to relieve discomfort. Prepare a compress by folding a clean cloth in several layers. Dip in warm water, wring out slightly, and apply to the eye. Dip the compress often to keep it moist. Keep applying the compress for an hour, rest an hour and repeat.
Sleep with your head elevated with 2 pillows until symptoms subside.
MEDICATION
Your doctor may prescribe:
Antibiotic eye drops or ointments to prevent infection.
Pain relievers.
Eye drops to dilate the eye pupil and rest the eye muscles (sometimes).
See Medications section for information regarding medicines your doctor may prescribe.
ACTIVITY
Your child can resume normal activities gradually after treatment.
DIET & FLUIDS
No special diet.
OK TO GO TO SCHOOL?Yes, after your child's healing has progressed enough to permit normal activity.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF
Your child has a cut or other eye injury.
The following occurs after an eye injury:
-- Fever.
-- Severe eye pain that persists, despite treatment.
-- Vision changes.
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