Eye Safety At-a-Glance

Do’s and Don’ts of Emergency Eye Care

If an eye accident occurs, see a medical doctor or eye care professional as soon as possible since an injury may
not be immediately obvious. Until a medical professional can be seen, heed the advice below
Do:

Protect the eye from further damage by

holding a folded cloth over the eye, having
it act as a shield.
u Seek eye care immediately.
u Bandage any cuts around the eye to
prevent contamination or infection.
u Flush the eye with water in the case of a
chemical burn or if there is small debris in
the eye.
u Use a cold compress to treat a blunt
trauma injury such as a black eye, but be
careful not to apply additional pressure.
Don’t:

Do not remove any objects that are stuck in the eye
as this could worsen the injury.
u Do not wash out the eye when dealing with cuts or
punctures to the eye.
u Do not attempt to self-medicate, apply ointments or
take any medications, including over-the-counter drugs.
u Do not rub the eye or apply pressure. Doing so may
cause more damage.