1. Things to do if there is
an eye injury:
Don't panic. Appropriate
treatment of an eye injury immediately following trauma
can prevent loss of sight Assess the situation, administer
first aid to the best of your ability, and then seek prompt
attention from an ophthalmologist or emergency room. Never
apply pressure to the injured eye or rub any speck that
is in it. If something has splashed or squirted into the
eye, the most important thing to do first is irrigate copiously
under a water faucet before sending for other treatment.
For serious injuries, protect the eye from further trauma
by taping a styrofoam or paper cup over it as a shield before
sending the child for emergency care.
2. Major eye infections you
will see in school:
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva,
a transparent, thin membrane which covers the white part
of the eye (the sclera). The conjunctiva contains many fine
blood vessels which become very prominent when they are
inflamed, making the normally white part of the eye appear
pink or red. The most common causes of conjunctivitis are
infections, allergies, and environmental irritants. Infections
causing conjunctivitis are usually quite contagious, while
allergies and irritants are not. Bacterial infections often
are associated with considerable amounts of pus. Viral infections
usually produce a watery discharge. The typical kind of
conjunctivitis seen in the school setting is viral. A common
misconception is that viral conjunctivitis is no longer
contagious after twenty-four hours of antibiotic eye drops.
This is not true! Like a virus which causes colds, antibiotics
by mouth or eye drops will not resolve this infection, which
usually lasts from one to two weeks. Frequent hand washing
and avoiding contact with infected tears are the best ways
to prevent spread of infectious conjunctivitis. Of course,
any red eye which does not resolve, or is associated with
significant pain, blurred vision, or severe light sensitivity
may represent a more serious eye condition which should
be evaluated by an ophthalmologist.
Chalazion (stye) - A chalazion is an inflammation
of an eyelid oil gland which appears as a lump on an eyelid.
A stye is actually an inflammation of a different type of
gland on the eyelid, but also looks like a cystic swelling.
While they may be tender and red, chalazia and styes are
not contagious and often resolve on their own. Treatment
may involve warm compresses, eye drops, or surgical drainage.
3. Main reason why children wear glasses:
Blurry vision - Glasses are prescribed
when nearsightedness, astigmatism, or significant farsightedness
causes blurry vision which interferes with daily activities
such as seeing the blackboard or reading. They are also
prescribed to prevent and treat amblyopia in the case where
there is a large difference in power between the eyes, such
as when one eye is very nearsighted or farsighted and the
other is not.
Straightening the eyes - For children who have crossed
eyes, glasses correcting their farsightedness will often
straighten ocular alignment. In this case, glasses must
be worn full time, since when they are removed, the eyes
will usually turn inward. Over time, gradual changes in
the prescription may allow good alignment even without glasses.
Protection - Children who have good vision in only one
eye should wear safety glasses for protection of the better
eye at all times. A Joint Policy Statement from the American
Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Ophthalmology
strongly recommends appropriate polycarbonate protective
lenses in eyewear for all athletes.
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