Try to get in to see your family physician if that’s possible. Your own physician is always your best bet because he or she knows you and your family—your medical history and medical insurance information doesn’t have to be repeated. Of course, as we all know, accidental injuries don’t always take place at convenient times. If you can’t see your family doctor, try a 24 hour Medicenter (a facility staffed with physicians for walk-in medical care). As a last resort, go to the hospital. Emergency rooms usually mean a long wait, but they are still your best bet if something happens in the middle of the night. Trust your judgment: If you are feeling panicked, take the injured person to the emergency room. However, if the situation seems to be under control and you are relatively calm, the Medicenter will probably suffice. (Sometimes the reason to go to the Medicenter or the emergency ward is one of convenience. Go to the one that is closer to your house!) The main point is that you should get help quickly! Whether you go to your private physician, a Medicenter, or an emergency room, do not wait when someone suffers an injury to the eye.
There’s a Fly in My Eye!
Flecks of dirt, bugs, and eyelashes all irritate the eye. Of course, they usually feel much bigger than they are: one grain of sand can feel like a large stone. In addition to pain and irritation, a foreign object in the eye can also cause redness, a stinging sensation when the person blinks, and sudden light sensitivity. Unfortunately, these symptoms can cause someone to panic. An injured person’s first impulse is usually to rub the eye to try to get rid of the pain. But this can have the opposite effect. Rubbing the eye can dig the dirt in deeper, causing more damage and making it even harder to remove. If you cannot see anything in the injured person’s eye, an object might be stuck under the eyelid. Follow these steps to treat that type of eye injury:
