Eye irrigation is washing of the conjunctiva sac by a stream of liquid.
Purpose
1. To treat inflammatory condition of the conjunctiva.
2. To apply heat or cold to the eye.
3. To apply medications.
4.To remove foreign particles or irritating chemicals fallen in the eye.
5. To relieve congestion and pain.
Common Solutions
1. Plain water to clean the eye.
2. Normal saline (sodium chloride).
3. Boric acid 2 percent as an antiseptic.
4. Silver nitrate 1 percent as an antiseptic.
5. Acriflavine 1 percent.
General Instructions
1. Maintain aseptic techniques throughout the procedure to prevent introduction of infection into the eye.
2. Use only sterile articles and solutions for eye irrigation.
3. Never touch eye with irrigator.
4. Test temperature of the solution at the inner surface of the wrist.
5. Flow of the fluid should be from inner canthus to the outer canthus to prevent the infection into the nasolacrimal duct.
6. Medications should be instilled immediately after eye irrigation.
7. Temperature of the solution is about 98°F to 100°F, so that the conjunctiva is not injured.
Equipment :-
1. An irrigator kept in a sterile bowl.
2. Prescribed solution in a container at the correct temperature.
3. Bowl of cotton swabs.
4. Medication bottle or ointment.
5. Kidney tray, paper bag and eye pad.
6. Mackintosh and towel.
Procedures
1. Wash hands to prevent cross-infection.
2. Clean eyelids and eyelashes from the inner to the counter corner of the eye by using wet swabs.
3. Irrigate the eye using solution, which is at body temperature.
4. Ask the patient to close his eyes and allow a small amount of the fluid to run over eyelid. Separate eye- lids gently with thumb and fore finger of the left thumb.
5. Keep the nozzle of the irrigator about 2 cm above the eyes and allow the fluid to run into the conjunctiva sac. The flow should run from the inner canthus to the outer canthus, so that the infection will not enter into the nasolacrimal duct.
6. 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.
7. Irrigate the eye until the outflow is clean.
8. Wipe the eyes for the effect of irrigation.
9. Instill eye drops or ointments according to order and make the patient comfortable.
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