Corneal Flash Burns

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• You may get a corneal flash burn when too much ultraviolet (UV) light shines on your cornea. Your cornea is a clear layer covering the front of your eyeball. A corneal flash burn is also called photokeratitis, snow blindness, arc eye, or welder's flash. Your cornea may get burned if UV light shines too brightly on your eye. UV light comes from the sun and contains energy. Your cornea may get burned from man-made lights and tools, such as tanning beds and welder's torches. Your cornea may also get burned when the sun reflects off of surfaces like snow, water, or sand.
  
  
• After a corneal flash burn, your eyes may feel tired or look red. Your eyes may be watery or feel like there is something in them. You may have eye pain or it may hurt to look at light. These signs and symptoms may disappear on their own after a few days. Your caregiver may test your eyes to look for eye damage or changes to your vision. Your caregiver may treat your symptoms with medicine, eye care, or surgery. With treatment, you may have less pain, redness, or swelling. Treatment may also help decrease your risk of having other eye diseases or permanent eye damage.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Medicine put in your eye may cause pain. If you have surgery to replace your cornea, your body may reject the new cornea. You may need to have another surgery. With or without treatment, you may get a cataract or have other eye problems. Without treatment, your pain may become worse. It may become difficult to keep your eyelids open. Your eyesight may get worse and you may get permanent damage to your eye. Ask your caregiver if you have questions about your condition, treatment, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

IV:

An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

You may be given the following medicines:

• Antibiotic medicine: This may be given as an eye drop or ointment. Antibiotic medicine helps prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria.
  
  
• Cycloplegic medicine: This is medicine to make your pupil larger. Your pupil is the black circle in the center of the front of your eyeball. Widening your pupil may help decrease your pain and stop your eye muscles from twitching.
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may be given pain medicine as an eye drop, by mouth, or through an IV. An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.
  
  
• Sedative: This medicine is given to help you stay calm and relaxed.
  
  
• Td vaccine: This vaccine is a booster shot used to help prevent diphtheria and tetanus. The Td booster may be given to adolescents and adults every 10 years or for certain wounds and injuries.

Tests:

• Slit-lamp test: This test uses a microscope with a strong light to look into your eyes. It is used to check the inside part of your eye and the area around it. This test may help your caregiver see damage to your eye.
  
  
• Visual acuity test: This test will help your caregiver know if there has been a change in your vision. He may ask you to read an eye chart at different distances.
  
  
• Eye stain test: This test uses a special dye and blue light. It may help your caregiver see if parts of your eye have been injured, such as your cornea.

Treatment options:

• Eye care:
  
  
  • Artificial tears: This medicine helps keep your eye moist. Artificial tears may also help prevent the inner part of your eyelid from sticking to your eye. You may be given artificial tears as an eye drop or as an ointment.
    
    
  • Eye patch: Your caregiver may place an eye patch or shield (plastic cover) over your eye. This may help keep your medicine against your eye. This may also help protect your eye from infection or another injury.
  
  
• Surgery: You may need surgery if your corneal flash burn has caused severe (very bad) damage to your eye. During surgery, your caregiver may replace your damaged cornea with a new one.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Corneal Flash Burns (Inpatient Care)