Burns to the Eye

Topic Overview

Most substances you get in your eyes that make your eyes burn will not cause serious eye problems. The only treatment needed for items such as soaps, shampoos, and perfumes that get in the eyes is to immediately flush the eyes with water. After flushing, the eyes may be slightly painful and irritated, but these symptoms should go away quickly.

See a picture of the eye .

Chemical burns can happen if a solid or liquid chemical or chemical fumes get into the eye. Many substances will not cause damage if they are flushed out of the eye quickly. Acids and alkali substances can damage the eye. It may take 24 hours after the burn occurs to determine the seriousness of an eye burn. Chemical fumes and vapors can also irritate the eyes.

Burns to the eyelid or eye can cause eye problems. Blasts of hot air or steam can burn the face and eyes. Bursts of flames or flash fires from stoves or explosives can also burn the face and eyes. If you have burns to your eyelids, see the topic Burns.

Eyes that are not protected by a mask or ultraviolet (UV) filtering sunglasses can be burned by exposure to the high-intensity light of a welder's equipment (torch or arc) or to bright sunlight (especially when the sun is reflecting off snow or water). The eyes also may be injured by other bright lights, such as from tanning booths or sunlamps. It may take up to 24 hours for the extent of the eye injury to be known.

After a burn injury to the eye, it is important to watch for symptoms of an eye infection.

For more information about other types of eye injuries, such as blows to the eye, see the topic Eye Injuries.

Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to determine if and when you need to see a doctor.

Emergencies

• Sudden partial or complete vision loss occurs after a burn to the eyes.
• Severe pain continues after 30 minutes of flushing a chemical from the eye.

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

	Yes	Do you have a chemical burn to your eye? Immediately flush your eye with cool water for 30 minutes. When to See a Doctor See significance of a chemical burn to the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Note: Flush your eye with water for 30 minutes. Continue to flush the eye while someone calls your doctor or a Poison Control Center for treatment instructions. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Have you had a chemical splashed into your eye? Note: When a chemical burn occurs, find out what chemical (acid or alkaline) caused the burn. When you call your doctor or a Poison Control Center or the National Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) have the chemical container with you so you can read the label to the Poison Control person. Yes Do you have pain, redness, discharge, or tearing after flushing your eye with water for 30 minutes? Yes Do you have any vision changes after flushing your eye with water for 30 minutes? Vision changes may include: Decreased vision. Double vision. Blurred vision. Sensitivity to light (photophobia). Yes Has your cornea turned white or cloudy after flushing your eye with water for 30 minutes? Yes Have you gotten superglue in your eye? Note: Flush your eye with water for 30 minutes. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question. Yes Have you gotten regular glue in your eye? Note: Flush your eye with water for 30 minutes. If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Have you had a heat (thermal) injury to your eye? When to See a Doctor See significance of a heat (thermal) injury to the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have severe pain? Yes Do you have decreased vision? Yes Do you have blisters on your eyelid? Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have moderate pain, but your vision is normal? Yes Do you have blurred vision that does not clear with blinking your eye? You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Have you had mild pain for 12 hours or longer that is not getting better with home treatment? Note: If pain is not 100% better after 24 hours of home treatment, an evaluation by a doctor is needed. Yes Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 24 hours of home treatment? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Have you had eye problems after an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure? Note: You may not have any symptoms for 6 to 8 hours after exposure to ultraviolet light. When to See a Doctor See significance of an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure to the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have severe pain? Yes Do you have decreased vision? Yes Do you have blisters on your eyelid? Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have moderate pain, but your vision is normal? Yes Do you have blurred vision that does not clear with blinking your eye? You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have mild pain that is not getting better after using home treatment for 12 hours or longer? Note: If pain is not 100% better after 24 hours of home treatment, an evaluation by a doctor is needed. Yes Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 12 hours of home treatment? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Do you think you have an infection after a burn to your eye? When to See a Doctor See significance of signs of infection if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have diabetes? Yes Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system? Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have pain in your eye? Yes Do you feel like you have something in your eye (foreign body sensation)? Yes Are your eyes very sensitive to light (photophobia)? Yes Do you have a yellow, green, bloody, or watery discharge from your eye? Yes Is redness of your eye or eyelids getting worse? Yes Do you have a gray or white sore on your eye? Yes Do you know or think you have a fever? Yes Do you have blurred or decreased vision? You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question. Yes Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 24 hours of home treatment? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

• An eye injury: Go to the topic Eye Injuries.
• An object in your eye: Go to the topic Objects in the Eye.
• An eye problem without an eye injury, such as pain, blurred vision, or blood in the eye: Go to the topic Eye Problems, Noninjury.
• Blisters on the face and around the eyes: Go to the topic Sunburn.
• Burns to the eyelid: Go to the topic Burns.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Emergencies

• Sudden partial or complete vision loss occurs after a burn to the eyes.
• Severe pain continues after 30 minutes of flushing a chemical from the eye.

Check Your Symptoms

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

	Yes	Do you have a chemical burn to your eye? Immediately flush your eye with cool water for 30 minutes. When to See a Doctor See significance of a chemical burn to the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Note: Flush your eye with water for 30 minutes. Continue to flush the eye while someone calls your doctor or a Poison Control Center for treatment instructions. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Have you had a chemical splashed into your eye? Note: When a chemical burn occurs, find out what chemical (acid or alkaline) caused the burn. When you call your doctor or a Poison Control Center or the National Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) have the chemical container with you so you can read the label to the Poison Control person. Yes Do you have pain, redness, discharge, or tearing after flushing your eye with water for 30 minutes? Yes Do you have any vision changes after flushing your eye with water for 30 minutes? Vision changes may include: Decreased vision. Double vision. Blurred vision. Sensitivity to light (photophobia). Yes Has your cornea turned white or cloudy after flushing your eye with water for 30 minutes? Yes Have you gotten superglue in your eye? Note: Flush your eye with water for 30 minutes. Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question. Yes Have you gotten regular glue in your eye? Note: Flush your eye with water for 30 minutes. If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Have you had a heat (thermal) injury to your eye? When to See a Doctor See significance of a heat (thermal) injury to the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have severe pain? Yes Do you have decreased vision? Yes Do you have blisters on your eyelid? Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have moderate pain, but your vision is normal? Yes Do you have blurred vision that does not clear with blinking your eye? You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Have you had mild pain for 12 hours or longer that is not getting better with home treatment? Note: If pain is not 100% better after 24 hours of home treatment, an evaluation by a doctor is needed. Yes Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 24 hours of home treatment? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Have you had eye problems after an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure? Note: You may not have any symptoms for 6 to 8 hours after exposure to ultraviolet light. When to See a Doctor See significance of an ultraviolet (UV) light exposure to the eye if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have severe pain? Yes Do you have decreased vision? Yes Do you have blisters on your eyelid? Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have moderate pain, but your vision is normal? Yes Do you have blurred vision that does not clear with blinking your eye? You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have mild pain that is not getting better after using home treatment for 12 hours or longer? Note: If pain is not 100% better after 24 hours of home treatment, an evaluation by a doctor is needed. Yes Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 12 hours of home treatment? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
	Yes	Do you think you have an infection after a burn to your eye? When to See a Doctor See significance of signs of infection if you need information to help you answer the questions below. Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms. Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have diabetes? Yes Do you have a disease or take medicine that causes problems with your immune system? Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions. Yes Do you have pain in your eye? Yes Do you feel like you have something in your eye (foreign body sensation)? Yes Are your eyes very sensitive to light (photophobia)? Yes Do you have a yellow, green, bloody, or watery discharge from your eye? Yes Is redness of your eye or eyelids getting worse? Yes Do you have a gray or white sore on your eye? Yes Do you know or think you have a fever? Yes Do you have blurred or decreased vision? You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question. Yes Do you have a small to moderate amount of discharge after 24 hours of home treatment? If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Other Symptoms to Watch For

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

• An eye injury: Go to the topic Eye Injuries.
• An object in your eye: Go to the topic Objects in the Eye.
• An eye problem without an eye injury, such as pain, blurred vision, or blood in the eye: Go to the topic Eye Problems, Noninjury.
• Blisters on the face and around the eyes: Go to the topic Sunburn.
• Burns to the eyelid: Go to the topic Burns.

If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.

Home Treatment

Home treatment may relieve your eye symptoms.

• First aid for chemical burns to the eye. Immediately flush the eye with cool water. Quickly diluting the chemical reduces the chance of serious eye damage.
• First aid for heat burns to the eyes or the area around the eyes. Immediately flush the eye with cool water. Fill a sink or dishpan with water. Put your face in the water, then open and close your eyelids to force water to all parts of your eye.

If your eye symptoms are not 100% better after 24 hours of home treatment, an evaluation by a doctor is needed.

Eye injury to a child

Applying first aid measures for an eye injury to a child may be difficult depending on the child's age, size, and ability to cooperate. Having another adult help you treat the child is helpful. Stay calm and talk in a soothing voice. Use slow, gentle movements to help the child remain calm and cooperative. A struggling child may need to be held strongly so that first aid can be started and the seriousness of the eye injury assessed.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:

• Decreased, double, or blurred vision doesn't clear with blinking.
• Pain increases or continues more than 24 hours.
• Signs of infection develop.
• Symptoms become more severe or more frequent.

Prevention

The following tips may help prevent burns to the eye:

• Wear safety glasses, goggles, or face shields when working with power tools or chemicals or doing any activity that might cause an object or substance to get into your eyes. If you work with hazardous chemicals that could splash into your eyes, be aware of the proper procedure for flushing chemicals out and the location of the nearest shower or sink.
• Wear a mask or goggles designed for welding if you are welding or near someone else who is welding.
• Injuries from ultraviolet (UV) light can be prevented by wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) rays and by wearing broad-brimmed hats. Be aware that the eye can be injured from glare during boating, sunbathing, and skiing. Use eye protection while under tanning lamps or when using tanning booths. Laser pointers have not been shown to cause eye injury.

Preparing For Your Appointment

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

If you have had a burn to the eye that affects your vision, have someone else drive you to your doctor. If you are wearing contact lenses, remove them, and take your glasses with you.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• What are your main symptoms? How long have you had your symptoms?
• What type of substance was splashed into your eye? How and when did it happen? Take the container with you.
• How and when did the heat (thermal) burn occur?
• How and when did the ultraviolet (UV) light burn occur?
• Do you wear glasses or contacts? Did you remove your contact lens? Has the injury affected your vision (as corrected with glasses or contacts)?
• What kind of vision changes are you having (not related to removing your eye glasses or contact lenses)?
• What home treatment have you tried? Did you flush your eye with water for 30 minutes as a first aid measure? Did it help?
• What prescription and nonprescription medicines have you used? Did they help?
• Do you have any health risks?

Related Information

• Burns
• Eye Injuries
• Objects in the Eye
• Sunburn

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