eye dressing

[slow1]

I was reading the contents of a first responder kit in a recent mag. They listed dixie cups, to be used for eye dressings. Can someone tell me this technique?

 

[Sender]

This is for treatment of an avulsed eye -when the eyeball itself is actually out of the socket.

Accepted prehospital treatment:

• 1. wrap the eyeball with sterile gauze moistened with saline.
• 2. stabilize by placing the paper cup (with a notch in the side lage enough to avoid compressing the blood vessels and nerves) over the gauze wrapped eye, and secure to the head with kling wrap.

Most eye injuries require patching both eyes to prevent further injury from sympathetic movement by the the uninjured eye.

[This message has been edited by Sender (edited 01-23-2001).]

 

[Stryver]

I have also heard of a cup or similar object being used for an impaled object in the eye. You are supposed to leave the object (Stick, knife, etc.) in the eye, and secure it gently to the head. You can wrap gauze, etc. around the object, and then punch a hole in the dixie cup bottom, and put it over the object to stabilize. Then stabilize the cup to the face.

Stryver

 

[Lone Hunter]

Two good answers,both correct and in line with my EMT training.BTW never remove any impaled object,bandage in place,limit its movement transport.

 

[Ron Fuerst]

Hi to all.

I have been following the discussion about Dixie cups as eye patches. The Dixie cup would substitute for a "hard patch" that is made of metal and available at the hospital. A hard patch is used when the eveball has received any penetrating injury. The idea is to prevent compression of the eyeball precipitating further injury. The cup, in essence, keeps the patient's hands off the damaged eye.

In regard to patching both eyes due to the sympathetic nervous system; the uninjured eye is covered to keep light out of it. When light enters the uninjured eye; both eyes respond with constriction of pupils (by the ciliary muscle). This will cause pain to the injured eye, even though it is covered. This pain is why the uninjured eye is covered, simply to control pain. No damage will occur to the injured eye due to this pupillary reflex.

 

[Greg Davenport]

Hi Ron and Sender,

Great to have individuals of your expertese post here. Thanks for providing such great answers.

Ron, you definately see a lot of pathology at your hospital and sender I am sure you see a lot in the field. A friend of mine did some advance PA training at the USC center several years back.


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Greg Davenport
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[This message has been edited by Greg Davenport (edited 01-24-2001).]

 

[Sender]

My reference was to sympathetic movement. When you move an uninjured eye, the injured eye also moves -causing further injury.

Patching the non-injured eye is mainly to remove stimulus; both light, and visual stimulus that would result in an attempt to focus and track.

 

[Santi]

What's the "dixie cups" ??