Today our topic of discussion is Eye Irrigation.
Eye Irrigation
EYE IRRIGATION
Eye irrigation is washing of the conjunctiva sac by a stream of liquid.
Purposes
- To treat inflammatory condition of the conjunctiva
- To apply heat or cold to the eye
- To apply medications
- To remove foreign particles or irritating chemicals fallen in the eye
- To relieve congestion and pain.
Common Solutions Used
- Plain water to clean the eye
- Normal saline (Sodium chloride)
- Boric acid 2%, as an antiseptic
- Silver nitrate 1%, as an antiseptic
- Acriflavine 1%..
General Instructions
- Maintain aseptic technique throughout the procedure to prevent introduction of infection into eye
- Use only sterile articles and solutions for eye irrigation
- Never touch eye with irrigator
- Test temperature of the solution at the inner surface of the wrist
- Flow of the fluid should be from inner canthus to the outer canthus to prevent forcing the infection into the nasolacrimal duct
- Medications should be instilled immediately after eye irrigation
- Temperature of the solution is about 98 to 100°F, so that the conjunctiva is not injured.
Equipment Needed
- An irrigator kept in a sterile bowl
- Prescribed solution in a container at the correct temperature.
- Bowl of cotton swabs Medication bottle or ointment
- Kidney tray, paper bag and eye pad
- Mackintosh and towel.
Procedure
- Wash hands to prevent cross infection
- Clean eyelids and eyelashes from the inner to the counter corner of the eye by using wet swabs
- Irrigate the eye using solution which is at body temperature
- Ask the patient to close his eyes and allow a small amount of the fluid to run over eye lid.
- Separate eye lids gently with thumb and fore finger of the left thumb.
- Keep the nozzle of the irrigator about 2 cm above the eyes and allow the fluid to run into the conjunctival sac.
- The flow should run from the inner cantus to the outer cantus, so that the infection will not enter into the nasolacrinal duct.
- Ask the patient to look up while irrigating the inner part of the lower lid and to look down while the inner part of the upper lid is irrigated
- Irrigate the eye until the outflow is clean
- Wipe the eyes for the effect of irrigation
- Instill eye drops or ointments according to order and make the patient comfortable.
Read more: