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Does A Minor Injury To The Cornea Require An ER Consultation?
Question: What symptoms require trip to ER for six year old slapped in eye by playmate causing crying refused to open eye at first now open but squinting. Eye slightly reddened (like has been crying, which he has)?
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Unfortunately it's hard to tell details of what the eye looks like in this picture but I would recommend going to the ER if:
1. The pain is continuing or seems pronounced. If the pain is not resolving, then that would be an indication that there was more force in the injury or that there is a scratch to the cornea which is very painful.
2. There is any chance the cornea (front of the eye) may have been scratched. In that case, in the ER the doctor can examine his eye with a slit lamp (it's not scary - he just rests his head on the chin rest and the doctor can get a magnified view of his cornea, usually after staining the tears with orange flourescein).
3. It was a forceful punch rather than a slap and there is considerable swelling.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Unfortunately it's hard to tell details of what the eye looks like in this picture but I would recommend going to the ER if:
1. The pain is continuing or seems pronounced. If the pain is not resolving, then that would be an indication that there was more force in the injury or that there is a scratch to the cornea which is very painful.
2. There is any chance the cornea (front of the eye) may have been scratched. In that case, in the ER the doctor can examine his eye with a slit lamp (it's not scary - he just rests his head on the chin rest and the doctor can get a magnified view of his cornea, usually after staining the tears with orange flourescein).
3. It was a forceful punch rather than a slap and there is considerable swelling.
Hope I have answered your query.
Take care
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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