Being a highly corrosive material, bleach has the potential to seriously harm the eyes. Because the eyes are delicate organs, exposure to bleach can have detrimental effects. Here are some reasons why bleach can be harmful for your eyes and what might happen if you become exposed to it.
Strong oxidizer bleach is frequently used for cleaning, disinfecting, and stain removal. It contains substances like sodium hypochlorite, which when in touch with tissues, particularly the eyes, can irritate and burn the skin.
Bleach can cause immediate and severe discomfort when it gets in the eyes. The concentration of bleach, the length of exposure, and the promptness of treatment are some of the variables that affect how severe the damage is. Following are a few ways bleach might injure your eyes:
1. Chemical burns: The cornea and conjunctiva of the eye can sustain chemical burns from using bleach. These burns can harm the soft tissues, resulting in discomfort, redness, swelling, and blurred vision.
2. Corneal abrasion: Bleach’s abrasive properties can damage the cornea, the transparent front surface of the eye, by scratching or abrading it. Corneal abrasions can hurt and raise the possibility of infection.
3. Inflammation and irritability: Bleach can irritate the eyes, resulting in redness, scratchiness, and excessive weeping. Additionally, the eyes may swell and become more sensitive to light. Long-term problems and more serious inflammation can result with prolonged exposure.
4. Corneal ulcers: Bleach damage to the cornea makes it more prone to infection. Through the damaged tissue, bacteria or other germs can enter the eye and cause corneal ulcers. These ulcers may require thorough treatment and cause excruciating pain and eyesight loss.
5. Conjunctivitis: Also caused by bleach exposure, conjunctivitis is also referred to as “pink eye.” Redness, drainage, irritation, and a gritty sensation are among the symptoms. Bleach can irritate the eyes directly or act as a complication of an infection to produce conjunctivitis.
It is critical to act immediately if bleach accidentally gets in your eyes:
1. Rinse with water: For at least 15 minutes, rinse your eyes with cool, clear water. Holding your eye open will allow for comprehensive irrigation as you let the water flow over it.
2. Take off your contact lenses: If you wear contacts, do so right away. By trapping the bleach against the eye, the lenses can prolong exposure and raise the possibility of problems.
3. Seek medical care: It is crucial to get expert medical care, even if the symptoms seem minor or disappear after rinsing. Go to the local emergency room or make contact with an eye care specialist. They are able to assess the severity of the damage, deliver suitable care, and head off any consequences.
Always seek medical advice from a qualified practitioner in an emergency situation, or call a emergency hotline. To lessen the potential harm that bleach contact to the eyes may cause, prompt medical care is essential.
At The Eye Center- Dr. Mahnaz Naveed Shah & Associates our team of eight ophthalmology subspecialists/ eye specialists, eye surgeons who are considered amongst the very best eye specialists in Karachi and in Pakistan, have the diagnostic and treatment capabilities to treat from the simplest to the most complex patients. We work hard to provide our patients with the best possible medical and surgical eye care, in a state of the art purpose built eye care facility. We offer the entire array of medical, laser and surgical treatments to help provide patients the best possible care in the most efficient, safe and ethical manner.
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