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Primary Surgery Vol.2 – Trauma |  |
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Primary Surgery Vol.2 – Trauma | |
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This takes two forms, the first is very common and the second very rare.
(1) Bacteria can invade a patient’s eye through even a minor injury, which is one of the reasons why these injuries should be treated so carefully.
(2) An immune reaction (sympathetic opthalmia) can involve his normal eye 4 to 8 weeks after the original injury. When this happens, it becomes sensitive to light, red (with ciliary injection), and painful; its near vision is transiently blurred. Don’t remove his injured eye; it may in the end have better vision than his other one. Give him steroids.
BACTERIAL ENDOPTHALMITIS This extends the general method for an eye injury in Section 60.1. If: (1) a patient’s cornea is cloudy, or (2) there is an abscess in it, or (3) there is pus in his anterior chamber, start a course of subconjunctival chloramphenicol or gentamicin (23.1). If possible, culture his conjunctiva. Instil drops of atropine 1% into his conjunctiva. If you treat him energetically, you may save his sight.
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Primary Surgery Vol.2 – Trauma | |
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