Eye Injury
Description
Injuries to the eye, eyelid, and area around the eye.
Vision
The main concern is that the vision was not damaged. Older children can tell us if their vision is blurred or out of focus. Test them at home by covering each eye in turn and having them look at a distant object.
Children less than 5 years old usually need to be examined to rule out serious injuries affecting vision even if the injury seems minor.
See More Appropriate Topic (instead of this one)
If foreign body present, see Eye, Foreign Body.
When to Call Your Doctor for Eye Injury
Call Your Doctor Now If:
- You think your child has a serious injury
- Vision is blurred or lost in either eye
- Child reports double vision or unable to look upward
- Pupils unequal in size or abnormal shape
- Bloody or cloudy fluid behind the cornea (clear part)
- Object hit the eye at high speed (such as from a lawn mower)
- Sharp object hit the eye (such as metallic chip)
- Skin is split open or gaping and may need stitches
- Any cut on the eyelid or eyeball
- Constant tearing or blinking
- Child keeps the eye covered or refuses to open it
- Severe pain
- Age < 1 year old
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours If:
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Bruises near the eye (such as a black eye or bleeding into the white of the eyeball) in child less than 5 years old
Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:
- You have other questions or concerns
Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):
Superficial Cuts or Scrapes
- Apply direct pressure for 10 minutes with a sterile gauze to stop any bleeding
- Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. (Protect the eye with a clean cloth)
- Apply antibiotic ointment to cuts. Cover large scrapes with Band-Aid. Change daily
Swelling or Bruises with Intact Skin (including a Black Eye)
- Apply a cold pack or ice bag wrapped in a wet cloth to the area for 20 minutes per hour to reduce the bleeding. Repeat for 4 consecutive hours
- Note: A black eye usually takes 1 to 2 days to develop. A flame-shaped bruise of the white of the eyeball is also common
- Apply a warm wash cloth for 10 minutes 3 times per day after 48 hours to help reabsorb the blood
Pain Medicine
Give acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen as necessary for pain relief.
Expected Course
Both of these injuries are harmless, last about 2 weeks and cannot be helped by any medicine.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Changes in vision
- Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms
Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright 2000-2006.