Author: Kuckelkorn R, Schrage N, Keller G, Redbrake C. Department of Opgthalmology, Universitatsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Germany.
Journal: Acta Ophthalmol Scand. 2002 Feb;80(1):4-10.
Abstract: Chemical and thermal eye burns account for a small but significant fraction of ocular trauma. The speed at which initial irrigation of the eye begins, has the greatest influence on the prognosis and outcome of eye burns. Water is commonly recommended as an irrigation fluid. However, water is hypotonic to the corneal stroma. The osmolarity gradient causes an increased water influx into the corneal structures. We therefore recommend higher osmolarities for the initial rinsing to mobilize water and the dissolved corrosives out of the burnt tissue. Universal systems such as amphoteric solutions, which have an unspecific binding with bases and acids, provide a convenient solution for emergency neutralisation. Both conservative anti-inflammatory therapy and early surgical intervention are important to reduce the inflammatory response of the burnt tissue. In most severe eye burns, tenonplasty re-establishes the conjunctival surface and limbal vascularity and prevents anterior segment necrosis.
-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.
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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.