EYELID CUTS

1. Carefully wash the eye. Apply a thick layer of bacitracin, mupirocin, or other antibacterial ointment on the eyelid. Place a patch over the eye. Seek medical help immediately.
2. If the cut is bleeding, apply gentle pressure with a clean, dry cloth until the bleeding stops.
3. Rinse with water, cover with a clean dressing, and place a cold compress on the dressing to reduce pain and swelling.

• DO NOT press or rub an injured eye.
• DO NOT remove contact lenses unless rapid swelling is occurring, there is a chemical injury and the contacts did not come out with the water flush, or you cannot get prompt medical help.
• DO NOT attempt to remove a foreign body or any object that appears to be embedded in any part of the eye. Get medical help immediately.
• DO NOT use cotton swabs, tweezers, or anything else on the eye itself. Cotton swabs should only be used on the eyelid.

Seek emergency medical care if:

• There appears to be a scratch, cut, or something has gone into (penetrated) the eyeball
• Any chemical gets into the eye
• The eye is painful and red
• Nausea or headache occur with the eye pain (this may be a symptom of glaucoma or stroke)
• There is any change in vision (such as blurred or double vision)
• There is uncontrollable bleeding

Images

First aid kit

Eye

Corneal injury

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Review Date: 02/07/2011
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)