Unit 8: Eye Trauma
6: Chemical Injury
Treatment
The most important treatment is immediate irrigation. Refer all cases to Ophthalmology, but only after commencing emergency treatment:
- Copious irrigation with saline and eversion of both eyelids to irrigate the conjunctival fornices. For alkali and acid burns irrigate for at least 30 minutes
- Do not use acids to neutralise alkalis or vice versa
- Instil topical anaesthetic before irrigation, if drops are available, but don’t delay irrigation to find drops
- Measure pH of eye and chemical (if patient brings in)
- 5 to 10 minutes after irrigation check pH and continue irrigating until normal (7.3 to 7.6)
The most important treatment is immediate irrigation. Refer all cases to Ophthalmology, but only after commencing emergency treatment:
- Copious irrigation with saline and eversion of both eyelids to irrigate the conjunctival fornices. For alkali and acid burns irrigate for at least 30 minutes
- Do not use acids to neutralise alkalis or vice versa
- Instil topical anaesthetic before irrigation, if drops are available, but don’t delay irrigation to find drops
- Measure pH of eye and chemical (if patient brings in)
- 5 to 10 minutes after irrigation check pH and continue irrigating until normal (7.3 to 7.6)
