Eye wash stations are staples in places like labs, schools, and industrial workplaces where dangerous or harmful chemicals, debris, or other eye irritants are at risk. These fixtures are essential to protecting your eyes and your vision in the case of a serious accident where your eyes may end up in direct contact with a harsh chemical. To address similar urgent situations, it’s vital that you know how to use an eye wash station and when to contact your eye doctor for emergency eye care. If you’ve recently had an encounter between your eyes and a chemical, contact a trusted optometrist in Woodbridge for follow-up care and an eye exam. Dr. Brian Abrams is a reputable and experienced eye doctor who can help you protect your eye health.
If you work around chemicals, here is what you need to know about how and when to use an eye wash station.
How to Use an Eye Wash Station
More often than not, your eye wash station will be a green ocular-shaped fixture attached to a sink. The faucet will be covered until it is time to be used. If your eye wash station is not used often, it’s recommended to run it on its own first until it runs clear. To ensure your eye wash station is always ready in an emergency, it is expected that local staff run the station monthly to ensure it is always clear. Once the water is clear, don’t hesitate. You can carefully place your eyes over the eye wash station, hold your eyes open, and spray the water, flushing your eyes for about fifteen minutes. Even if your eyes feel better after using the eye wash station, you should still schedule an eye exam with your optometrist to ensure there is no delayed damage.
When to Use an Eye Wash Station
An eye wash station should be used immediately in the following situations when your eyes are compromised by a harmful substance or contaminant. Besides getting a chemical in your eye, other signs you may benefit from using an eye wash station include excessively dry eyes when in dusty environments or when you’ve used a corrosive or caustic chemical. If you’re not sure whether chemicals or debris have entered your eye, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Make your way to a nearby eye wash station and rinse your eyes thoroughly, then book an eye exam and check in with your local optometrist in Woodbridge.
Chemical Exposure
If a chemical splashes into your eye, it can cause serious irritation, burns, or even permanent vision loss if not addressed immediately. Common workplace chemicals that require prompt flushing include acids, alkaline solutions, cleaning agents, and industrial solvents. The longer a chemical remains in contact with your eye, the higher the risk of injury.
Dust, Dirt, or Debris in the Eye
Small particles like dust, sawdust, metal shavings, or glass fragments can become lodged in your eye, causing discomfort, redness, and potential scratching of the cornea. Even if the object does not seem serious or noticeable at first, leaving it untreated may lead to an infection or long-term irritation. If you’re experiencing discomfort in your eye, prioritize a visit with an experienced optometrist in Woodbridge like Dr. Brian Abrams. Our team will conduct a thorough eye exam and prescribe treatment if there is an infection.
Smoke, Fumes, or Vapours
Exposure to strong fumes, smoke, or airborne irritants can cause burning, redness, or excessive tearing. This is common in workplaces where welding, chemical mixing, or industrial cleaning takes place.
Contact with Contaminated Hands
If you accidentally touch your eye after your hands have been contaminated, whether from chemical residues, dirt, or allergens, it’s a good idea to flush out any potentially harmful substances immediately before irritation or infection develops. While eye irritation from industrial environments is common, even simply touching your eyes while cooking after using irritating ingredients like citrus, peppers, or even onions can cause serious side effects. To protect your eyes and maximize comfort, flush your eyes with clean water and check in with your eye doctor to determine if more serious emergency eye care is needed.
Reliable Emergency Eye Care and Eye Exams with Dr. Abrams
Urgency and reliability are key to emergency eye care. At Dr. Brian Abrams Family Eye Care, we can help you protect and treat your eyes after an accident that could compromise the health of your eyes and the longevity of your vision. Our team is dedicated to comprehensive, sensitive, and personalized care, from emergency eye care to eye exams. To learn more about how our optometrists in Woodbridge can help you and your whole family, book an appointment.
