Eye burns

Introduction to eye burns When the eye encounters high heat or chemicals, the eye will quickly reflexively close to avoid burns. However, extremely high temperatures can still cause eyeball burns. The severity of the burn and the extent of the pain depend on the depth of the burn. Chemical burns can be caused by certain irritating substances entering the eye. Even substances that are not very irritating can cause obvious eye pain and damage. Because the pain is severe, the eye is tightly closed, and the chemical can remain in the eye for a longer period of time, which aggravates the damage. 17% of the eye injuries caused by chemical substances are caused by solid chemicals, and 31% are caused by liquid chemicals. 52 % is caused by chemical fumes. In the eye injuries caused by these chemicals, it may be caused by direct contact of chemicals with the eyes. It may also affect the eyes and vision through systemic absorption of skin, respiratory tract and digestive tract. Or damage caused by the center. basic knowledge The proportion of illness: 0.001% Susceptible people: no special people Mode of infection: non-infectious Complications: conjunctival hyperemia

Cause of eye burn

Visible light damage (10%):

Can cause macular burns, such as naked-eye observation of eclipse caused by "ecliptic retinopathy", young people and emmetropic eyes are more common, while high myopia is rare, and related to the nature of solar eclipse, season, time, weather and sunny The photic damage of the retina can be caused by a strong light source or a surgical microscope of an ophthalmic examination instrument. The mechanical, thermal and photochemical effects of the laser can cause inflammation and scarring of the retina.

Ionizing radiation damage (25%):

X-ray, r-line, neutron or proton beam can cause radioactive cataract, radioactive retinopathy or optic neuropathy, keratitis or iridocyclitis, etc., mostly in head radiation therapy, radioactive occupation or nuclear leakage, nuclear* After external irradiation, or after using a local applicator (dose 30Gy ~ 36Gy, also caused by 15Gy), generally 4 months to 3 years, causing progressive microvascular disease, similar to diabetic retinopathy.

Heat-induced eye burns (8%):

High-temperature substances, such as fire, boiling water, hot oil, steam, etc., cause direct burns in contact with the eye tissue, and are often combined with facial or systemic skin burns.

Chemical eye burns (12%):

Acidic substances such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid or alkaline substances such as potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, ammonia, and lime may cause damage to the eye.

Cause

Thermal and chemical burns are most common in the causes of eye burns, and others include radiation burns.

Radiation eye burns: Radiation damage includes damage caused by various radiation lines in the electromagnetic spectrum, such as microwave, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet light, X-ray, r-ray, etc. Neutron or proton beam irradiation can also cause such damage.

(1) Infrared damage: glass processing and high temperature environment can produce a large amount of infrared rays. The damage to the eyes is mainly thermal. Short-wave infrared rays (wavelength 800-200mm) can be absorbed by crystals and irises, causing cataracts (formerly known as blown glass). Worker cataracts).

(2) UV damage: electric welding, plateau, snow and water surface reflection can cause ultraviolet damage to the eye, also known as electric ophthalmia or snow blindness.

Eye burn prevention

(1) Once the eyeball is accidentally splashed into the burn by acid or alkaline substances, immediately wash it with plenty of tap water, river water or saline, and open the upper and lower eyelids with your eyes or hands, and swing your head about 10 in the water. In minutes, thoroughly clean the chemicals in the conjunctival sac.

(2) After the first aid, the following measures should be taken:

1 In the case of alkaline chemical damage, it should be rinsed with 20% boric acid. When the lime is burned, it can be dropped once every 5 to 10 minutes with 4% ammonium chloride or 5-10% ammonium tartrate.

2 Acidic chemical damage can be washed with 2% sodium bicarbonate solution.

3 topical antibiotic eye drops and eye ointment dressing.

(3) After the above emergency treatment, the hospital will be sent to the ophthalmology department for further diagnosis and treatment.

Eye burn complications Conjunctival congestion

Easy to concomitant infection.

Symptoms of ocular burns Common symptoms Scalded edema Congestive conjunctival hyperemia Lens turbid paralysis

1. There is a history of flame burns or high temperature liquid burns.

2. Chemical eye deposition and staining; due to prolonged exposure to chemicals, visible chemical deposits in the eyelid skin, conjunctiva, cornea, crystal, vitreous, retina, etc., tissue coloration on the surface of the eye, often due to long-term direct contact with chemicals As a result, the chemical deposits in the eye are mostly chemically absorbed by the skin, the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract, and then deposited in the eye. For example, silver stains are exposed to silver dust for a long time, and the cornea and conjunctiva may develop taea and silver deposit. .

3. Chemical eye irritation or burns: chemicals that do not cause irritation to the skin, can also cause damage to the cornea and conjunctiva, often causing irritation, such as tobacco, alcohol, mercury, asphalt and hydrogen sulfide, can cause conjunctiva Congestion, papillary hyperplasia or conjunctivitis can also cause corneal epithelial damage.

4. Chemical-induced eye allergic reaction: This kind of reaction, multi-surface is inflammation of the eyelid skin and conjunctival congestion and edema, each with a foreign body sensation of thorny skin.

5. Ocular lesions caused by chemical poisoning: toxic chemicals are absorbed by the body and cause pathological changes in the eye tissue. There may be ophthalmoplegia, lens opacity and chemical deposition, uveal and retinopathy, optic neuropathy, In addition to eye symptoms, there may be symptoms of poisoning in other parts of the body.

Eye burn inspection

1. Focus on the history of infinite burns.

2. Physical examination focuses on the degree of damage to the eye skin and anterior segment of the eye.

Diagnosis of eye burn diagnosis

According to the medical history, the diagnosis can be made without identifying other diseases, and the type of burn can be identified according to the cause of the disease.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.