Eye Trauma Management
Initial Assessment and Care
- Patients with high-velocity eye injuries should seek immediate medical attention, as advised by the American Heart Association, to prevent further damage 4
- The American College of Cardiology recommends not rubbing the eye after trauma to avoid worsening the injury and potential damage to the corneal epithelium 4
- Taping a hard plastic eye shield over the eye can help prevent unintentional touching or rubbing, as suggested by the American Heart Association 4
Recommended Eye Drops
- The British Association of Dermatologists recommends applying nonpreserved hyaluronate or carmellose eye drops every 2 hours during the acute phase to maintain corneal epithelial integrity 1, 2, 3
- The British Association of Dermatologists suggests administering broad-spectrum topical antibiotics, such as moxifloxacin drops four times daily, in the presence of corneal fluorescein staining or frank ulceration 1, 2, 3
- Topical corticosteroid drops, such as nonpreserved dexamethasone 0.1% twice daily, may reduce ocular surface damage in the acute phase, according to the British Association of Dermatologists 1, 2, 3
Special Considerations
- The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends prescribing topical antibiotics to contact lens wearers with corneal trauma to prevent acute bacterial keratitis, although the specific guideline is not mentioned 5
- Prevention of corneal exposure is essential in unconscious patients to reduce the risk of ulceration and infection, as recommended by the British Association of Dermatologists 1, 2, 3