Eye, Ear, and Nose Injuries
Lesson 4: Treat Lacerations, Contusions, and Extrusions of the Eye
4-5
4-5. TREAT AN INJURY TO THE EYEBALL
NOTE: Bleeding may or may not be present.
a. Close the patient's eyelid and cover the injured eye with an eye pad or other sterile dressing. (See paragraphs 4-4a and b.)
b. Cover both eyes with pads using one or more dressings to prevent sympathetic movement and to avoid further injury.
NOTE: Remember to cover both eyes even if only one eye is injured. When one eye
moves, the other eye duplicates its movement.
c. Tell the patient not to squeeze eyelids together.
d. Do not apply pressure to eyeball and be especially reassuring to the patient.
