Eye Burn - Causes and Signs of Eye Burn

By type of damage, eye burns are divided into:

• thermal - caused by exposure to high temperatures;
• chemical - caused by interaction with chemically active substances.

By location, eye burns are divided into:

• burns of the eyelids and periorbital area;
• burns of the cornea and conjunctival sac;
• burns that cause rupture and destruction of the eyeball;
• burns of other areas and parts of the ocular apparatus.

By depth of damage, eye burns are divided into degrees:

• 1 degree, mild: the skin of the eyelid and conjunctiva is damaged, swelling and the formation of superficial erosion are observed, which disappear without traces.
• Grade 2, moderate: the superficial layers of the eyelid skin and corneal stroma are damaged, characterized by swelling, the formation of shallow tissue necrosis and burn blisters, the cornea becomes cloudy and uneven.
• Grade 3, severe: accompanied by deep necrosis of more than 50% of the eye tissue, namely the eyelid, cartilage, sclera, conjunctiva. The cornea becomes cloudy, dry, the conjunctiva takes on the appearance of a grayish or yellow scab.
• Degree 4, especially severe: accompanied by deep necrosis, carbonization of the sclera and conjunctiva.

Causes

The main cause of burns is the effect of high temperatures or substances on tissues.

The cause of thermal burns is the effect of fire, steam, hot liquids on the skin, contact with hot objects. Such burns are usually classified as mild, since the effect of the damaging agent is accompanied by the closure of the eye slit and the agent itself tends to cool quickly and does not tend to penetrate deep inside.

Chemical burns are caused by alkalis and acids. The degree of exposure to the agent depends on its structure. Liquid agents are diluted by the lacrimal fluid after the eye closes and do not penetrate deeply. A solid agent, getting into the lacrimal fluid, turns into a concentrated solution and acts more strongly and deeply.

Symptoms

Symptoms of eye burns depend on the degree of damage:

• Mild burns (1st degree) are accompanied by hyperemia of the skin of the eyelids, conjunctiva and eyeball, edema of the epithelium and superficial erosion of the cornea.
• Moderate burns (2nd degree) are characterized by hyperemia, edema and the appearance of burn blisters on the eyelid. The conjunctiva is edematous, covered with white and gray films that are easily separated from the surface. The cornea is subject to clouding, the pattern of the iris goes beyond the edges.
• Severe burns (3 degrees) are accompanied by necrosis of the skin on the eyelids, which is covered with a crust of a dense gray color. If the burn is caused by an alkali, the film is less thin, if by an acid, then it is denser. The conjunctiva takes the form of a scab of gray or white color. The cornea becomes cloudy: only the outline of the pupil is visible.
• Especially severe burns (4th degree) are characterized by charring or deep necrosis of all tissues, accompanied by necrosis of the sclera and conjunctiva, damage to all layers of the cornea (the outline of the pupil is not visible).

Some time later, the necrotic layers are transformed into ulcers, and then scar, which leads to a change (eversion or inversion) of the eyelids, as well as shortening of the conjunctival fornix.

With 3rd and 4th degree eye burns, after healing, adhesions are formed between the eyeball and the conjunctiva of the eyelid, called symblepharons.

Diagnostics

Diagnostics of an eye burn is performed by an ophthalmologist. A consultation with a surgeon may also be required. In the acute period, diagnostics are not performed, but only after first aid has been provided.

Diagnostic measures for eye burns include:

• external examination of the eyes using eyelid lifters;
• determining visual acuity;
• measuring intraocular pressure;
• ophthalmoscopy;
• biomicroscopy using fluoremcein with a coloring effect.

Treatment

In case of an eye burn, the victim must be given first aid: jet rinsing of the eyes with water or saline. Then urgent hospitalization is required.

In the ophthalmological hospital, the victim is given further assistance:

• The first 2-3 hours, the lacrimal passages are washed, foreign bodies are removed, and an ointment with local anesthesia is applied.
• Anti-tetanus serum is administered.

Then they begin treating the burn:

• Installation of cytoplegic agents to reduce pain and prevent the occurrence of adhesions.
• Eye ointments and drops with an antibiotic are prescribed to prevent infection.
• The eye is irrigated with a tear substitute.
• Antioxidants are prescribed intramuscularly.
• For corneal regeneration, eye gels are placed behind the eyelid.
• From non-drug treatments include eyelid massage and physiotherapy.

Surgical tactics are also used to treat eye burns. Surgical treatment is necessary when chemical reagents penetrate deeply into the anterior chamber of the eye, or when there is a risk of losing the eye if some tissue is not removed.

To perform plastic surgery, you must make an appointment with a plastic surgeon. Their services are used to correct the eyelid when it is everted or inverted, to eliminate ptosis, to restore eyelashes, treat cataracts, etc.

Prevention

The main preventive measures for eye burns are the use of protective equipment when working with chemical reagents, hot water, steam, etc.