Eye Injuries: Common Causes and First Aid for Chemical Burns

Protected, but not fully

The structure of your face helps shield your eyes, but injuries still happen — some bad enough to cost you your vision.

Most eye injuries are preventable. If you play sports or work in certain jobs, you may need eye protection.

The most common injury

Something irritates the eye's outer surface. It's more likely:

• in certain jobs, such as industrial work;
• in hobbies such as carpentry;
• if you wear contact lenses.

Burns

Chemicals or heat can burn your eyes.

With chemicals, the pain may make you close your eyes — which traps the irritant against the eye and can do more damage. Rinse the eye out right away while you wait for medical help.

Sources

Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Eye Injuries," National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.