Chemical burns of the eye are a medical emergency. Some of the chemicals that can burn the eye, causing terrible pain and possibly permanent blindness, include:
Acid
Alcohol
Ammonia
Bleach
Cleaning products, especially those used for cleaning ovens or unclogging drains
Hair dye
Furniture oils
Because permanent eye damage can occur in one to five minutes, immediate treatment is vital! These are the steps to take, even before calling a doctor or 911:
Do not let the injured person rub or touch his or her eyes.
If only one eye is involved, tilt the injured person's head to the side of the injured eye, to prevent the chemical from getting into the uninjured eye.
Gently open the damaged eye as much as possible with the fingers of one hand.
Flush the injured eye with large quantities of cool, running water (or milk, if water is not available) for at least 10 minutes. This can be accomplished by:
1. Holding the injured person's head under a faucet, or
2. Pouring water from a glass into the eye, or
3. Placing the top of the injured person's face in a bowl or sink filled with water.
If both eyes are involved, let the water flow over both or quickly alternate from one eye to the other.
If it is necessary to transport the injured person to an emergency room without the aid of paramedics, cover the injured eye or eyes with sterile gauze pads or a clean handkerchief, then bandage in place.
Head quickly to the nearest emergency room!
