When gas enters the eye, it demands immediate attention. The nature of the gas and duration of exposure dictate the potential severity of the outcome. Understanding the correct steps to take swiftly can help minimize discomfort and prevent more significant issues for the eye.
Immediate Symptoms and First Aid
Experiencing gas in the eye leads to immediate symptoms. These include stinging or burning, excessive tearing, and redness. Eyelids may swell, making it difficult to keep the eye open due to pain or spasms. Vision might blur, and the eye may feel irritated or as if a foreign object is present.
First, immediately and thoroughly flush the affected eye with clean, lukewarm water. This rapid dilution of the chemical is crucial for reducing potential damage. You can flush by getting into a shower and aiming a gentle stream of water at your forehead, allowing it to flow into the eye, or by placing your face in a basin filled with water and opening and closing your eyelids. Holding the eyelids open with your fingers and moving the eye in all directions ensures all areas are rinsed.
Continue flushing for a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes, or until the pain subsides. If you wear contact lenses, remove them after washing your hands; if removal is difficult, flush the eye with the lenses in place, then discard them afterward. Avoid rubbing the eye or attempting to neutralize the gas with other substances like milk, baking soda, or baby shampoo, as these are not proven to be more effective than water and may cause further irritation.
When to Seek Professional Help
Even after thorough flushing, professional medical evaluation may be needed. Seek immediate medical attention if persistent pain or irritation continues after flushing for the recommended duration. Also seek care for any changes in vision, such as continued blurriness, decreased sight, or extreme sensitivity to light.
Visible damage to the eye, like redness that does not subside or clear signs of a chemical burn, requires prompt medical care. If exposure involved highly corrosive or toxic gases, professional evaluation is important to assess the injury and prevent further complications. It is advisable to contact a Poison Control Center after flushing, especially if you know the specific chemical involved, as they can provide guidance on further treatment.
Understanding Potential Damage
Exposure to gas can harm the eye’s delicate structures. The specific type and severity of damage depend on the gas’s chemical composition, concentration, and duration of exposure. Gases can cause chemical burns, corneal abrasions (scratches on the clear outer layer of the eye), and inflammation of the conjunctiva (the membrane lining the eyelids and covering the white part of the eye).
Some gases, particularly those with alkaline properties, are particularly dangerous. Alkaline substances can penetrate deeper into eye tissues, causing more severe damage to internal structures like the cornea, lens, optic nerve, or retina. Acidic gases, while still harmful, often cause tissue coagulation on the eye’s surface, which can limit deeper penetration. Irritant gases, typically with a neutral pH, tend to cause more superficial discomfort and irritation. Prompt and thorough treatment, such as immediate and prolonged flushing, reduces the risk of these issues and mitigates adverse outcomes.