Eye injuries and their treatment / by A. Maitland Ramsay.

  • Andrew Maitland Ramsay
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Eye injuries and their treatment / by A. Maitland Ramsay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    42/334 (page 16)
    The brownish stain which often remains after the operation ought to be carefully scraped away, so that the healing process may be hastened. When the sub- stance is embedded in the conjunctiva it should be grasped with a pair of forceps, and the piece to which it is adherent cut out with a pair of curved scissors. Removal is in all cases followed by an immediate sense of relief, and, as a rule, nothing more requires to be done, except to bathe the eye with some anti- septic lotion, and, if pain continue, to apply an ointment of cocaine and vaseline, and to adjust a compress and bandage. These should be worn until all signs of irritation have passed away. When, however, in con- sequence of the foreign body having been long present, or of rough and unskilful attempts having been made without success for its removal, the breach in the corneal surface is slow to heal, the wound should be lightly dusted with equal parts of precipitated iodoform and boracic acid in very fine powder. This treatment stimulates the healing process and counteracts, as far as possible, any tendency to suppuration. Acetate of lead should never be used. Lead lotions have enjoyed a well-deserved popularity in the treatment of con- junctival inflammations, but, whenever there is a breach of surface, the acetate is decomposed and a white precipitate is formed. If this be deposited on the cornea, a dense white glaring opacity is the result, and the vision of the eye is permanently impaired. (Plate III., Fig. I.)