Why You Should Follow up with Your Eye Doctor after a Work Accident
Posted on: 24 October 2016
When you have a spill accident at work that gets substances in your eyes, you typically run right to an eyewash station to flush your eyes and save your sight. While the eyewash station probably functioned exactly as it is supposed to, and/or your eyes are no longer burning or blurry, you should still see your eye doctor. Here is why.
Damage to Your Eyes You Cannot See
Your eye doctor's instruments can see the damage that the spill accident caused. What may be invisible to your naked eyes, the optometrist can quickly spot with his/her devices. You may have more serious damage to your eyes from the accident than you know. More serious damage could lead to bigger problems, including loss of your sight (even after you tried to save your eyes at the emergency eyewash station at work).
Taking Care of the after-Effects
Depending on which chemical was accidentally spilled into your eyes, you may notice some after-effects. Itching, pain, burning, spots in front of your eyes, etc., could all be after-effects. Your optometrist can give you something to help neutralize any remaining traces of the spill chemical, which would then reduce and eliminate any after-effects your eyes are currently feeling.
Monitoring the Health of Your Eyes over the Next Month
All parts of the human body can have a delayed reaction to potential injury. Your eyes are no exception. After a quick post-accident follow-up with your optometrist, he or she may decide to have you return at least one more time in the next month to make sure your eyes are still okay. If any part of your eyes shows deterioration or infection, your optometrist will want to refer you to an ophthalmologist for more intense treatment or surgery to save the health of your eyes.
Using Any Prescribed Eye Drops the Doctor Gives You
Additionally, if your eye doctor prescribes medicated eye drops at the time of the accident follow-up, be sure to use them religiously until your doctor tells you to stop. The drops may be able to reverse some of the damage or stop scar tissue from forming, which could seriously affect your sight later on. If your doctor also prescribes compresses or eye patches, be sure to use those as well. Usually, after a major spill accident at work, your eye doctor/optometrist will do everything possible to prevent the spill from taking your sight or damaging very delicate eyeball tissues, and that includes prescription treatments.
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