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Managing Chemical Injuries Follow these tips to prepare your office for emergency burn patients.

Although most offices have the supplies and equipment necessary to treat an ocular chemical burn, they may not be easy to find in the event of an emergency. As such events are fairly rare, protocols are often lacking and office staff may not be prepared. This article provides concrete information on how to develop a systematic approach for treating a chemically-burned patient.

The approach presented includes suggestions on how to prepare your office (consolidating supplies, keeping a supply list, and training of staff) in addition to how to treat the patient upon arrival. Commonly seen chemicals and a list of necessary supplies, including the Morgan Lens, are included.

Author

Carl H. Spear, O.D.

Publication

Optometric Management (March 1998)

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A 60-year-old female splashed cleaning solution in her eyes. She was irrigated with the Morgan Lens until pH returned to normal. Afterwards, she told me, "You know, contact lenses are a lot more comfortable than I thought. Maybe I should get some!". Her chemical conjunctivitis resolved nicely without sequelae. A clinical success.

Physician (Virginia)

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.