Ammonia got into my eye, what should I do?

Eye burns are not uncommon. They may be different. But the most dangerous type is a chemical burn to the eye. What is it, what causes it, how can I help a person with burns of varying severity? Let's try to answer these questions.

Main characteristics of injury

A chemical burn is an injury to the eye caused by exposure to aggressive chemicals. First of all, there is damage to the conjunctiva - a thin connective membrane that covers the outer surface of the eye and the back surface of the eyelid. It performs an important function because it releases a special liquid that lubricates the eye and prevents it from drying out. Its damage often leads to impairment and even loss of vision.

Damaging substances

Chemical burns of the conjunctiva are not uncommon these days. According to statistics, 10% of all eye burns are of chemical origin. Most often, damage occurs when aggressive substances come into contact with the ocular surface. Among them are:

Acids. Most often, burns occur with the following acids:

1. hydrochloric acid (HCl);
2. sulfuric (H2SO4);
3. acetic (HC, COOH);
4. hydrofluoride (HF).

An acid burn is similar to a thermal burn. It affects the conjunctiva and cornea without spreading into the eyeball. The degree of damage is affected by the concentration of acids and the duration of their exposure. At the site of acid entry, a necrotic area appears, which is separated from healthy tissue (coagulation). In this case, a very strong pain syndrome appears, since the optic nerves are irritated.

Alkali. The most common alkalis that cause burns are:

1. ammonia (ammonium hydroxide);
2. caustic soda (sodium hydroxide);
3. magnesium hydroxide;
4. potassium hydroxide;
5. slaked lime (calcium hydroxide).

Burns from alkaline substances are considered more dangerous because the damage extends deep into the eye, from where it is not easy to remove. At the same time, the time of negative impact increases.

This occurs due to the fact that alkali provokes liquefaction necrosis in the proteins, which leads to their melting (myomalacia) and spreading throughout the eye. In this case, the optic nerves are damaged by alkali, which leads to their loss of sensitivity. That is why a person with alkaline burns practically does not feel pain. This often leads to underestimation of damage.

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Risk factors

How do chemical eye burns occur? This occurs through direct contact with acids or alkalis, when, due to carelessness or failure to comply with safety measures, these aggressive substances first enter the area of ​​the conjunctiva of the eye, causing its necrosis (death). Among the risk factors contributing to the occurrence of such burns are:

1. Construction or repair manipulations. These types of work often use chemicals that can cause burns.
2. Using aggressive substances in everyday life without following safety rules. For example, improper or careless use of ammonia, household chemicals containing dangerous acids or alkalis. It is also risky to leave such substances within the reach of children.
3. Work involving frequent use of chemicals. This may be the production of concentrated acids and alkalis or other types of work where such substances are used.
4. Careless behavior with car batteries that contain sulfuric acid concentrate. This is especially true for car enthusiasts who do not have professional skills in working with cars.
5. Alcohol abuse. In this state, very often people do not follow safety rules, which leads to unpleasant consequences.

Any type of burn is potentially dangerous. Therefore, first of all, a person needs emergency care for a chemical burn to the eyes.

The sooner it is provided, the more favorable the forecasts will be.

How does it manifest?

The severity of a chemical burn depends on many factors. Among them are:

1. type of chemical (acid, alkali, etc.);
2. the amount of substance that has reached the surface of the eyes;
3. concentration of the chemical (the more diluted it is, the less harm the burn will cause);
4. temperature of the substance (the higher it is, the more complex the consequences);
5. duration of exposure to the eyes.

The favorable outcome of treatment is also influenced by the patient’s age (the younger the person, the faster the recovery), as well as how timely and high-quality first aid was provided.

There are several degrees of eye damage from chemicals, which differ in the severity of the damage and are manifested by specific symptoms. There are 4 degrees of chemical burns:

The first is considered the mildest degree of burn. Its main features:

1. sudden onset of pain;
2. cloudiness in the eyes (vision problems);
3. the appearance of red blood vessels in the whites of the eyes (hyperemia);
4. conjunctival edema (chemosis);
5. cloudiness of the fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye.

Healing procedures

For a chemical burn to the eye, first aid involves a set of certain actions. It must be provided on an emergency basis. It’s good if there is a person nearby with a medical education or basic knowledge in this area. But even an ordinary person can help.

First aid

So, what to do for chemical eye burns? There are several stages of emergency assistance:

First, it is urgent to rinse the affected eye (no later than 30 minutes after contact with the chemical). To do this, use a physiological solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (table salt) or a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate). They have antiseptic properties.

If nothing is available, rinse the eyes with plain water from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner to avoid chemicals getting into the healthy eye. If there are solid particles of the chemical (lime) in the eye, they should be removed with a dry cotton swab before rinsing.

After all these manipulations, you should cover the affected area with a clean bandage, give the patient a sedative and send him to the hospital, where appropriate treatment will be carried out.

It depends on the severity of damage to the eyeball and the presence of concomitant conditions (inflammation, pain shock and others).

Further therapy

Medical centers offer these procedures to treat eyes damaged by chemicals. First of all, medications are used. Among them:

1. local anesthesia for the purpose of carrying out manipulations to remove aggressive substances (Lidocaine);
2. antitetanus serum;
3. antibiotics to prevent infection (drops containing ciprofloxacin, Levomycetin eye ointment);
4. cycloplegic drugs that reduce pain and prevent scarring (atropine sulfate solution);
5. tear fluid substitutes (Lakrisin);
6. drugs that reduce intraocular pressure (Timolol, acetazolamide solution);
7. glucocorticosteroids (Prednisolone) are prescribed when inflammation occurs.

Additionally, citrates (citric acid salts) or ascorbic acid are prescribed, which improve calcium metabolism in the affected area.

If extensive damage to the eyeball is observed (with burns of 3 or 4 degrees of severity, when defective conditions occur), then surgical intervention may be required:

1. tarsography (suturing the skin of the eyelids during healing);
2. tissue transplantation;
3. autotransplantation;
4. keratoplasty (to remove scars);
5. prompt correction of the consequences of burns (glaucoma, cataracts).

In some conditions (subatrophy - slow death of the damaged eye), keratoprosthesis may be required - replacing the cloudy cornea with an artificial optical device.

Eye burns of chemical origin are common. Most often they are caused by acids and alkalis that enter the eye due to carelessness or failure to follow safety rules when in contact with aggressive chemicals. Such burns should be treated by a qualified physician.

What to do if your eyes are burned with alcohol? This question is asked by people who have been exposed to a chemically active substance. Eye damage from alcohol can occur if the liquid is handled carelessly. A patient who is faced with such a problem should be given immediate medical attention and sent to a medical facility for further treatment as soon as possible.

Stages of damage and types

Based on what specific substance led to the malfunction of the eye apparatus, the pathology can be combined, chemical, thermal or radiation. An eye burn with alcohol is classified as a chemical disorder.

There are 4 degrees of severity, on which possible negative consequences and symptoms directly depend. Analyzing the affected area, the substance may be negatively affected by:

1. periorbital area and skin on the eyelids;
2. cornea in combination with the conjunctiva;
3. the eyeball, in this case its destruction is observed;
4. adnexal apparatus, etc.

In addition, patients should understand that, depending on the speed of pathological processes, there are 4 stages. When ammonia or medicinal alcohol comes into contact with the eyes, the pathology goes through the following stages:

1. The initial stage lasts no more than 2 days. During this, tissue death occurs. Gradually, the cornea begins to swell and the patient feels discomfort.
2. The duration of the second stage largely depends on the individual characteristics of the person. It can last for 2 days or several weeks. In addition to swelling of the corneal tissue, serious trophic disorders are formed. This process can cause irreparable harm to health.
3. The third stage lasts for another 2-3 months. Due to the fact that oxygen is supplied to the tissues of the eye apparatus in insufficient quantities, hypoxia and trophic processes begin. During this, the vessels of the cornea begin to grow.
4. The final stage lasts for several years. After you have burned yourself with vodka or alcohol and all the previous stages have already passed, the tissue begins to scar. For this process, the body produces collagen in large quantities.

First aid for an eye burn must be provided at the initial stage, otherwise the patient may face serious impairment or completely lose vision.

Even a specialist will find it difficult to determine how deep the burn was in the near future after the incident. To determine this factor, it is necessary to know the duration of exposure to the chemical and its strength. In the first few hours after exposure to ammonia or another type of alcohol, the symptoms will be pronounced, so it is problematic to assess the person’s condition.

Manifestations of violation

Signs of a violation largely depend on how long the irritating factor has been in effect. Most often, patients complain about:

1. acute pain that is present for a long time;
2. swelling formation;
3. redness of the mucous membrane and skin;
4. swelling of the eye apparatus;
5. profuse lacrimation;
6. high sensitivity to natural and artificial light sources;
7. the appearance of a white film on the eyes;
8. decreased visual acuity;
9. violation of intraocular pressure indicators, which manifests itself in corresponding discomfort.

The listed manifestations should not be taken as the only ones possible, since a person may complain of other symptoms. They appear against the background of concomitant diseases of the eye apparatus and other characteristics of the body. Also, if you burn yourself with alcohol, the pressure area may narrow.

A few days after the burn, all symptoms disappear, but this does not mean that the violation has passed without a trace. The pathology will progress regardless of whether there are external signs of a disorder or not. Conservative treatment in this case helps to avoid the development of serious complications and slow down the pathology. Unfortunately, it is not possible to improve visual acuity with medication alone; this will require surgical intervention.

Emergency care and therapy

What to do if your eyes are burned with alcohol? Everyone needs to know the first aid recommendations, since in such a situation there is no time to find a solution. Before treatment begins, the patient should be treated on site. It involves the immediate removal of the irritating substance that comes into contact with the eyes. It must be removed despite the spasm and acute pain that occurs in the first few hours.

You should begin treating your eyes with copious amounts of rinsing. This can be done with water or a solution of potassium permanganate. Before arriving at a medical facility, it is allowed to use an anesthetic drug.

A patient with a burn must be admitted to an ophthalmology hospital. They continue to do jet rinsing, but use saline instead of water.

It is extremely dangerous to independently select any neutralizing agents for yourself, since it is unknown how such treatment will affect the condition of the eyes.

After the examination, the doctor will remove all foreign bodies from the conjunctival zone and prescribe eye ointment and drops. Such drugs have an anesthetic effect. In addition, treatment involves drip administration of atropine. In cases with serious violations, a course of antibiotics is prescribed. Also, to moisturize the mucous membrane, special drops are prescribed that replace natural tears.

Along with medications, eyelid massage and physiotherapy are prescribed. Surgical treatment is performed only in extreme cases when there is a risk of complete loss of vision. By contacting a specialist in a timely manner, severe consequences after a burn can be avoided.

If you handle alcohol-containing substances carelessly, eye damage may occur. If in such a situation medical care is not provided in a timely manner, the person may develop serious complications and consequences, including loss of vision. That's why people need to know where to go for help if alcohol gets in their eyes and what to do.

Symptoms

If a person accidentally gets alcohol or pure alcohol into his eyes, he will experience a severe burning sensation. Experts distinguish lesions by area of ​​impact:

1. skin on the eyelids, as well as the periorbital area;
2. conjunctiva and cornea;
3. eyeball;
4. area of ​​the accessory ocular apparatus (lacrimation and tear-producing organs, retrobulbar tissue, etc.).

A sign of a chemical burn to the eye from contact with alcohol will be the following symptoms:

1. acute pain that does not subside over a long period of time;
2. swelling and swelling appears;
3. severe redness is observed on the skin and mucous membranes;
4. profuse lacrimation begins;
5. photophobia is observed;
6. visual acuity decreases;
7. a white film appears before the eyes;
8. Intraocular pressure begins to fall or increase, etc.

Stages of development

If medical, ethyl or ammonia gets into the eye, then pathological processes in a person will begin to develop as follows:

1. At the initial stage, the affected area burns very strongly. Within two days after the alcohol gets on the ocular mucosa, necrotic processes will develop, during which the tissues die. Due to swelling of the cornea, the patient will begin to experience severe discomfort.
2. At the second stage, the duration of which depends on the characteristics of the body (from 2 days to 2-3 weeks), ulcers begin to form in the places where the alcohol got in.
3. At the third stage (from 2 to 3 months) hypoxia develops, vessels localized in the cornea actively grow.
4. The fourth stage can last for 1–3 years. Over the years, tissue scarring occurs against the backdrop of the body actively producing large amounts of collagen.

Treatment

If vodka or alcohol gets into your eyes, what should you do? Before visiting the hospital, the victim should provide first aid for eye burns:

1. Immediately rinse the affected area with plenty of cool water. You should scoop up liquid into your palms, bring them to your eyes and blink frequently so that the water rinses out any alcohol that gets in.
2. The person should take a horizontal position and remain at rest for some time.
3. It is forbidden to rub the eyelid area, even with severe itching and burning.

After providing first aid for an eye burn with alcohol, the victim should go to the nearest hospital and make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. The doctor will conduct an examination, prescribe a set of diagnostic measures and, based on their results, develop an individual treatment regimen.

It consists of various drugs, for example drops: “Taufon”, “Albucid”, “Lidocaine”, “Balarpan”, “Atropine”, etc.

Additionally, we invite you to watch a video where an expert talks about the dangers of alcohol burns to mucous membranes and first aid:

If alcohol gets on the eyeball or eyelids, immediately provide first aid and consult an ophthalmologist. Share your experience in the comments and repost on social networks.

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