Chemical exposure even if your eye was irrigated at home, the ophthalmologist will probably have your eye irrigated again. The chemical involved and severity of the injury will dictate the treatment. For severe exposures, such as acid or alkali, your pupil may be dilated with special eyedrops, and pain medicine may be prescribed.
Subconjunctival hemorrhage treatment consists of reassurance, avoidance of rubbing the eye, and time.
Numbing eyedrops are often used to examine the eye. Although this removes the pain, they cannot be used at home to control pain. The anesthetic drops actually delay healing. Repeated use will damage the cornea. Dilating the pupil with drops and antibiotic ointments or drops is commonly done.
Depending on your ophthalmologist, an eyepatch may be used. Some ophthalmologists believe that the patch provides symptomatic relief and speeds healing. Others believe that the increased risk of infection with a patch, particularly in people who wear contact lenses, outweighs the potential benefits.
Traumatic iritis eyedrops are used to dilate the pupil. Steroid eyedrops may be helpful to decrease inflammation.
Hyphema people with significant hyphemas may be hospitalized and placed on bedrest with their head elevated. A protective metal shield may be placed over the eye, and the pupil is dilated with drops. People who will follow the ophthalmologist's instructions with small hyphemas may be managed at home.
Orbital blowout fractures ice and elevation of the head for 48 hours are recommended to reduce swelling. You are advised not to blow your nose. Some ophthalmologists use nasal decongestants and oral antibiotics for 1-2 weeks. If any surgical repair is needed, it is usually done 1-2 weeks later when the swelling has gone down.
Lacerations depending on the size and location of the laceration, suturing (stitches) may be necessary. If the cut is in a noncritical location, the laceration may be left to heal on its own. Lacerations to the eyeball often require sutures and more extensive surgery.
Chemical exposure follow-up depends on the severity of the injury.
Subconjunctival hemorrhage no follow-up is usually necessary.
Corneal abrasion small abrasions in people who do not wear contact lenses need follow-up if their symptoms have not gone away in 24 hours or if they recur. Large abrasions and abrasions in people who do wear contact lenses will need to be closely monitored by an ophthalmologist to assess healing.
Traumatic iritis reevaluation in several days with an ophthalmologist is recommended.
Hyphema such cases are best managed by an ophthalmologist. If you have not been hospitalized, follow-up is often performed the next day.
Orbital blowout fractures outpatient follow-up occurs several days to a week after the injury.
Lacerations follow-up depends on the nature and extent of the injury. In wounds thought to be at high risk for infection, a wound check may be done 24-48 hours after the injury. Skin suture removal is often performed 5 days after a lid laceration. However, if the eyelid margin has been repaired, those sutures may be left in longer (10-14 days). Eyeball lacerations will need to be closely monitored by an ophthalmologist.
Foreign bodies corneal foreign bodies that were not embedded or cleanly removed by an ophthalmologist can have follow-up as needed. If a rust stain is present, follow-up with an ophthalmologist in 1-2 days is needed for removal. Deep foreign bodies of the orbit or globe of the eye require follow-up based on the severity of the injury.
Light-induced injury ultraviolet keratitis in a people who do not wear contact lenses needs follow-up if symptoms continue beyond 24 hours. People who do wear contact lenses should have follow-up until healing is complete. Contact lenses should not be worn until cleared to do so by the ophthalmologist. Solar retinopathy requires periodic follow-up with an ophthalmologist.