Treatment for Chemical Injuries

Chemical eye burns may occur when the eye comes into contact with a liquid, solid or vaporous chemical. The severity of the burn is based on chemicals, as well as the amount which comes into contact with the eye. Luckily, the vast majority of the burns are treatable & cause only temporary discomfort.
Chemical eye burns fall into 3 categories depends upon the acidic or alkaline level, measured in pH. The pH scale ranges from 0-14 & indicates how much acidic or basic substance is present. The pH of 7 is neutral and the pH of healthy tears is 7.5. A pH which is less than 7 is acidic while a pH which is greater than 7 is basic.
Mild chemical eye burns that can treat quickly and usually heals within few days.

• Eye care: You eye will be rinsed by your caregiver. Then he removes any remaining chemicals or other objects from the eye. He may give you the artificial tears or an eye patch to protect the eye & help to heal it.
• Medicines:
  • Antibiotic medicine: This will help to prevent the infection which is caused by bacteria. It may be given as an ointment or eyedrop.
  • Pain medicine: You will be given medicine to take away or decrease the pain. Do not wait till the pain is severe before you take the medicine. This medicine will be given as a pill or eyedrop.
  • Cycloplegic medicine: This medicine dilates the pupil & relaxes your eye muscles to help in decrease the pain & twitching.
  • Steroids: This medicine will be given to decrease the inflammation.
• Surgery:
  • Debridement: Caregivers will remove any of the damaged tissue from your eye to reduce the inflammation & help your eye to heal.
  • Tenoplasty: Caregivers rebuild the damaged parts of the eyeball & restore the surface of the eye.
  • Tissue grafting: Caregivers may replace a damaged tissue in your eye.
  • Transplant: Caregivers will replace the damaged cornea or other parts of the eye.