Adults and children suffer from conjunctivitis; this disease is considered one of the most common ophthalmological problems at any age. A necessary step in the treatment of pathology is eye washing. How to perform this procedure correctly, is regular saline solution suitable for rinsing? We will answer these and other questions in the article.
Many people know firsthand what conjunctivitis is. This is the name for an inflammatory disease of the outer shell of the eye, which can be caused by various reasons. There are conjunctivitis of a viral, bacterial, fungal, allergic nature, and for each type of disease there are various treatment options.
Common symptoms that unite different types of conjunctivitis are:
- redness of the mucous membrane;
- increased tearfulness;
- discharge from the eyes (clear, watery, purulent);
- itching and discomfort in the eyes.
In treatment, ophthalmic drops, ointments and other drugs with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral effects are widely used. But before you drip or smear your eyes with the product prescribed by the doctor, it is recommended to rinse them with water or special solutions.
Fluid selection
At home, the following solutions are most often used for these events:
- Miramistin;
- Chlorhexidine;
- Furacilin and Penicillin;
- Water with salt;
- Infusions of medicinal plants;
- Hydrogen peroxide and boric acid;
- Regular saline solution.
The doctor should determine which means to choose if there are serious problems. If you need to cleanse your eye of dust, you can take the advice of traditional healers and resort to such safe means as:
- Water;
- Herbal decoctions.
Adults
In addition to the recipes listed above, adults can use the following products to wash their eyes:
Salt
Dissolve one tablespoon of table salt in 200 milliliters of boiled water. Using a pipette, place two drops into each eye organ. Perform the procedure at least twelve times a day.
Aloe juice
Take four to five aloe leaves. Pour in 200 milliliters of boiled water. Let it brew for an hour in a dark room. Rub your eyes at least twelve times a day.
How long does the procedure take?
The duration of the measures depends on many factors, in particular, on the type of substance that ended up on the mucous membrane and the degree of damage. Here are some examples:
- It will take about 5 minutes to remove shampoo, body gel or soap solution;
- If the visual organ is affected by non-penetrating caustic acids, the duration of cleansing is 20 minutes;
- Irritants (hot pepper or other substances with a similar effect) can also be removed within 20 minutes;
- Penetrating chemicals, which include ammonia, bleach, lye, and drain cleaners, can be completely removed in an hour or even more.
In order not to make a mistake with the time interval, you must carefully study the information for the selected product.
Caring for the diaper area
When caring for the diaper area, many parents prefer to wash their baby with soap every time they change, believing that this protects the baby’s skin from germs. Meanwhile, if the soap has an alkaline pH, the result of such washing will most likely be the opposite. Soap with an alkaline pH destroys the water-alkaline mantle and disrupts the protective properties of the skin. Therefore, when choosing soap for your baby, you need to pay attention to the pH and use only one that has a neutral reaction - pH 5.5. It is also important to remember that when caring for a child’s skin, it is not recommended to use antibacterial soap, which can have a negative effect on the normal microflora of the child’s skin.
In general, in order not to violate the protective properties of the child’s skin, soaps or products containing surfactants should be used only when necessary.
Diapers must be changed immediately after the baby has pooped, since even short-term skin contact with urine and feces can lead to skin irritation.
It is better to wash the baby under running water, so that the body does not touch the sink, thoroughly cleaning all the folds in the perineal area. Girls are washed from front to back, in the direction of the buttocks. Then you need to thoroughly dry the skin with a towel. After the baby's skin in the diaper area has been cleaned and dried, it is better to apply a protective cream to it, which will provide reliable protection from urine and feces and will prevent irritation. If there are already elements of irritation on the butt, it is better to choose a cream that contains zinc oxide and panthenol, which provide a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. The method of applying the cream is called “dosing through maternal hands”, i.e. The mother first rubs the cream into her palms and applies the remainder to the baby’s skin.
Eye Cleansing Options
There are different eye washing techniques. The most common procedures are using the following means:
- Bowls;
- A glass;
- Pipettes.
Let's look at how these events are carried out below.
Regardless of the method chosen, it must be taken into account that water for washing eyes at home must have a temperature of at least 15 degrees. It's better if she has body temperature. Rinsing with a hot solution can cause a burn to the mucous membrane of the eye.
The first option is a bowl
Using the first cleansing option is effective in removing foreign debris from the organ of vision. This procedure is also used to relieve fatigue or tension. Actions:
- The size of the bowl must be such that the entire face fits;
- The dishes must certainly be clean;
- Pour the solution inside the basin;
- Take a deep breath and at this moment dip your face inside the container, ensuring that your eyes are in the liquid;
- It is not recommended to bend over too much to avoid liquid entering the nasal cavity;
- In water, you need to open your eyelids and blink, these actions will help ensure greater fluid capture and better flushing;
- Raise your face and blink;
- If your eyes become dry or tired, you need to dip your face in the liquid again;
- After completing the cleaning procedure, dry your eyes with a paper towel.
Option two - a glass
This manipulation is not intended to remove debris. The procedure is used to relieve eye fatigue.
Procedure:
- Fill a small cup, such as a shot glass, with a special solution;
- Press the container around the eye;
- Then you need to tilt your head back so that your eye and the bottom of the cup look up;
- It is better to perform actions over a sink to avoid splashing;
- Wrap a towel around your neck;
- Make circular movements with your eyes and blink;
- These measures will help to evenly distribute the solution over the surface of the visual organ, as well as moisten it;
- If necessary, carry out the event several times in a row;
- When finished, dry your face with a paper towel.
Pipette to the rescue
This eye cleansing option is suitable for adults and small children. It is also recommended to use a syringe or rubber bulb for rinsing.
These products should be used extremely carefully, since a strong jet of solution can damage the delicate mucous membrane of the eye and aggravate the problem.
Cleaning option:
- Fill the device with liquid and drop it into the eye;
- Before the procedure, you need to tilt your head back;
- When performing manipulations, do not touch the eyelashes or eyelids with a pipette;
- Blink to distribute the fluid.
Urgent rinsing
Sometimes there is no time to think about the temperature of the liquid or bacteria. If a caustic element enters the organ of vision, it is necessary to immediately rinse with a large volume of any water, and then call an ambulance.
You cannot do this procedure when any alkali metal gets into your eye, since its particles instantly react to water. In such a situation, call an ambulance, its staff will provide the necessary assistance.
When an accident occurs at work, it is urgent to use a wash station. Its activation lever is marked very brightly; you need to press on it and wait for the water to spray out like a fountain. At the same time, you need to open your eyes and place them under water. When such a station is not available, a water supply will do. You should rinse your eyes for at least 20 minutes, since earlier the water will not have time to neutralize the substances; it will only wash them away from the surface of the mucous membrane.
These measures will prevent serious problems associated with dust or chemicals getting into the mucous membranes of the eyes and working in front of a monitor. Remember, you should visit the clinic as soon as possible for a consultation with an ophthalmologist.
Contraindications
The use of isotonic solution is prohibited for patients before ophthalmological operations. It is not used during the rehabilitation period after cataract removal, installation of an intraocular lens, or treatment of myopia and hyperopia with laser.
Contraindications include:
- hypersensitivity to the components of the drug;
- ineffectiveness of the drug.
The medicine is successfully used in pediatric practice. Cannot be used with certain medications, may lead to unwanted complications.
Sometimes saline solution causes adverse reactions, such as a rash around the eyes, itching, and redness. In severe cases of an allergic reaction, Quincke's edema develops.
How to carry out the procedure in children
For children, you can use a towel soaked in the solution and placed on the inflamed area, as well as a pipette and other methods. Allowed rinsing liquids:
- Chamomile;
- With added salt;
- With boric acid.
To prepare a healing decoction, grind the flowers of the plant, take 1 tsp. raw materials and pour 250 ml of boiling water over it. The liquid must be infused under a closed lid, then cooled to a comfortable temperature. Then strain and use for cleansing. Chamomile is an excellent remedy for combating irritation, most inflammations, eye fatigue, conjunctivitis or redness. It is recommended to use the decoction for rinsing or lotions.
Cleansing steps:
- You should take sterile cotton pads and moisten them;
- Tilt your head, run a cotton swab across the eye to the bridge of the nose, squeezing out the liquid;
- To open the eye, apply pressure with your fingers;
- This will completely remove the foreign particle or infection;
- Use only one disk for one procedure.
Boric acid is used when there is suppuration in a child. The solution is prepared by adding 1 tsp. powder and dissolving it with a liter of water.
You only need to rinse your eyes with 2% boric acid. You only need to wipe the eye with one cotton swab, then throw it away immediately. Saline solution helps remove sand and dust from the eyes. It should not provoke discomfort (burning, itching).
To remove a foreign object, you need to bring the container to the eye so that it dips into the solution. After this, the baby should blink a couple of times. This action will cause irritation, causing the foreign object to float out.
What else is recommended to wash your eyes with? Allowed to use:
- Tea leaves;
- Potassium permanganate;
- Your tears;
- Aloe juice;
- Furacilin.
An effective remedy for newborns is Furacilin solution. Using liquid, it will be possible to eliminate pus and disinfect the mucous membrane. The product is allowed to be used by children as well as adults. The procedure for cleansing the visual organ should be carried out twice a day until complete healing.
For preventive purposes, this product is not recommended to be used so as not to cause redness or irritation. Before choosing a liquid for procedures, be sure to visit your pediatrician. The doctor will examine the child and give recommendations on the use of medications.
Washing with furatsilin solution
One of the effective eye washes with an antiseptic and antibacterial effect is furatsilin.
The pharmacy sells a ready-made sterile solution of this substance. You can also prepare it at home from two furatsilin tablets 0.02 g and 200 milliliters of warm boiled water. To do this, you need to crush the medicine to a powder, add liquid and leave until completely dissolved, stirring from time to time. Before use, it is necessary to strain the resulting solution through gauze, folded in half, to avoid the ingress of tiny particles of the drug, which can damage the mucous membrane of the eye.
What not to do
We’ve already figured out how to wash your eyes. But it is worth considering some restrictions on the use of these solutions. Experts do not recommend using alcohol compounds or manganese solutions for such events.
These drugs can harm the visual organ and cause burns to its tissues. To prevent such troubles, it is better to consult a doctor and use only special drops.
If unpleasant symptoms appear, you should inform your doctor. You cannot self-medicate - this is fraught with complications.
