Ravina Sewani

Most eye injuries are minor, like getting soap in the eye or a speck of dirt under the eyelid. Getting chilli in the eye has to be the most irritating one. Before you comfort your child, properly wash your hands clean with soap and water. Remember, that no soap remains in your hand. Symptoms of eye injuries:<ul><li>Redness around or in the eye</li><li>Stinging or burning</li><li>Watering</li><li>Sensitivity to light</li><li>Blurred vision</li><li>Swelling of the eyelids</li><li>Discoloration around the eye</li></ul> Chilli in eye:<ul><li>If your child has got chilli in the eye, (s)he will experience burning sensation in the eye and the eye will turn red.</li><li>To relieve your child, you need to grab the milk from the refrigerator.</li><li>Soak a paper towel in milk and then gently pat (don’t rub) around the child’s eye. Let the milk-soaked paper towel then rest gently on your child’s eye.</li><li>Once your child is relieved from the immediate pain, pour a few drops of milk in your child’s eyes to calm down the rest of the burn. Then soak another paper towel in the milk and gently pat around the eye.</li><li>Milk is more effective than water so if you have milk available, it is better not to go for water.</li></ul> When an irritant enters the eye like sand or dirt: If you think your child has a particle in the eye or a minor irritation:<ul><li>Wash your hands before touching the eye area.</li><li>Flush the eye with water as soon as possible.</li><li>Tilt your child's head over a basin with the injured eye pointed down.</li><li>Gently pull down the lower lid.</li><li>Gently pour a steady stream of lukewarm (not hot) water over the eye.</li><li>Flush the eye for up to 15 minutes, checking every 5 minutes to see if the particle has been flushed out or not.</li></ul> When there is a foreign body embedded in the eye: This happens when an object reaches the globe of the eye. If an object, such as a piece of glass or metal, is sticking out of the eye, take the following steps:<ul><li>Call for emergency medical help.</li><li>Cover the affected eye with a small cup taped in place. The point is to keep all pressure off the eye.</li></ul> In case of Chemical Exposure:<ul><li>If your child gets a chemical in the eye and you know what it is, look on the product's container for an emergency number to call for instructions.</li><li>If you don't know what caused the irritation, flush the eye immediately with lukewarm water for 15 to 30 minutes. If both eyes are affected, flush them in the shower.</li><li>Call for emergency medical help.</li></ul> Black Eyes and Blunt InjuriesA black eye is often a minor injury. But this bruising of the eye can sometimes lead to a significant eye injury or head trauma. A visit to the doctor or an eye specialist might be needed to rule out serious injury. For a black eye:<ul><li>Apply cold compresses intermittently: 5 to 10 minutes on, 10 to 15 minutes off. If you use ice, cover it with a towel to protect the delicate skin on the eyelid.</li><li>Use cold compresses for 24 to 48 hours, then switch to applying warm compresses intermittently. This will lead to the discolouration of the injured area.</li><li>If the child is in pain, get a painkiller prescribed by the doctor.</li><li>Give an extra pillow to the child at night and encourage him or her to sleep on the uninjured side of the face (pressure can increase swelling).</li></ul> In any type of injury, call for medical help if your child has:<ul><li>Been struck in the eye with a ball or other object</li><li>Increased redness</li><li>Trouble seeing</li><li>Severe eye pain</li><li>Visible eyeball abnormality</li><li>Been exposed to chemicals</li><li>Blood in the eye</li><li>Eye discomfort</li><li>A swollen, red, or painful area around the eye or eyelid</li><li>Nausea or vomiting after an eye injury</li></ul> Prevention:Make your child wear protective gear while they play sports. Keep chemicals and other hazardous objects out of the reach of children.

Most eye injuries are minor, like getting soap in the eye or a speck of dirt under the eyelid.

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