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Chemical Eye Injuries in the Workplace. Prevention and Management

Author: Lusk PG

Journal: AAOHN J 1999 Feb;47(2):80-7; quiz 88-9

Abstract:

  1. The majority of ocular burns are related to accidents at work. Acute ocular chemical injuries require immediate recognition and management.
  2. Copious irrigation of the eye, done immediately at the scene, is the most important factor in the long-term prognosis of ocular chemical bums.
  3. After irrigation has been completed and the eyes have been allowed to rest, visual acuity can be tested and referrals can be made to health care facilities and an ophthalmologist.
  4. The nurse conducts health hazard assessments of the workplace, provides information about workplace chemicals and their risks, and ensures proper safety protective equipment and emergency supplies. Practicing emergency procedures such as irrigation is important.
  5. The nurse monitors and analyzes injury exposure episodes and trends, along with coordinating referrals, treatments, and follow-up care for workers with ocular chemical burns.

-Once I had an exposure while give a patient a medication through a saline lock.  The syringe backed out slightly and when I gave the med a little push it sprayed into my eyes.  It burned, so I immediately flushed my eyes.  A co-worker instilled a Morgan lens to each eye and ran sterile N.S. and I felt immediate relief.


-A local trauma surgeon and avid woodworker complained of irritation to his eye for several days.  The eye was obviously irritated.  After being examined by an emergency department doctor for a foreign body, and finding none, we irrigated the eye using the Morgan Lens.  The surgeon found the lens to be comfortable, and after irrigation the eye felt better.  Two days later his eye was better without redness or irritation.


-An employee of the hospital where I work had a car battery explode in his face.  An eye irrigation was set up and initiated with the Morgan Lens.  He felt much better and commented on the soothing feeling of the sterile saline irrigation.

Registered Nurse (California)

MorTan Inc.

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Why Use The Morgan Lens?

The Morgan Lens is used in 90% of hospital emergency departments in the USA and can be inserted in less than 20 seconds. There simply is no other "hands-free" method of eye irrigation. Nothing else frees medical personnel to treat other injuries or to transport the patient while irrigation is underway. Nothing is more effective at treating ocular chemical, thermal, and actinic burns or removing non-embedded foreign bodies, even when the patient's eyes are closed tightly. Its design makes it simple and straightforward to use so minimal training is required.