Volume 12, Issue 2: Chemical Eye Injury

Chemical eye injury – a building sight accident

You and your crewmate are having a much needed sandwich break when a scream erupts from a nearby building site. A spray of cement has hit a builder in the face and he is in great pain “It’s in my eye!” he yells. You need to manage the situation and decide on next steps quickly…

CPD benefit

In the UK, there are around 56 cases of chemical eye injury per million per year needing medical treatment. They range from mild eye irritation to severe burns that cause irreversible blindness. This article examines the three key steps to understanding and managing chemical eye injury: irrigating the eye as soon as possible, identifying the chemical causing the injury, and understanding the anatomy most at risk of injury. There is guidance on the signs and symptoms to be aware of and the best way to assess and manage the patient in order to reduce the harm caused by the injury.

Assessment Answers

To check your answers to the quiz please see the back page of the issue or, to get your CPD Certificate, complete the quiz via the ParaPass app: parapassweb.co.uk.