Dr. Hive: Sand in Eyes!?

[JenneinCA]

First off, he has an appointment this afternoon at 3:15.

 

Now, my youngest son (age 5) was at park day yesterday and took a huge shovel full of sand to the face. It was an accident, but wow it was a lot of sand. He was standing in the sand area with his hands at his sides screaming loud enough for the whole park to hear when I got to him. He wouldn't open his eyes. I got as much sand off his face as I could and then poured water from our water bottles into his eyes for a good half hour. The other moms refilled my water bottles so I didn't run out. After a while we got the sand mostly out and he seemed fine until all of a sudden he was screaming again. Then about an hour or so he seemed really fine and wanted to go play light sabers again. So I let him.

 

Another mom was adamant that he go to the ER last night. But I didn't take him because he seemed okay and it didn't seem necessary to drag three kids and a stressed mom to the ER. This morning when he woke up one eye was watering and he said both felt like there was still sand in there. So I called his doc and he will be seen at 3:15. He is now acting fine, but I am feeling paranoid.

 

So what says Dr. Hive? Is there something else I should have done? Should I have taken him in last night? The accident was at about 4:45 so I couldn't have gotten him into his doc yesterday at all, I wasn't thinking that far ahead. I was holding is hands from his face and pouring water instead.

[Hillary in KS]

It sounds like you handled it fine at the park. But I would've called the eye doctor when we got home. Eye injuries are hard to see, and nothing you want to mess with.

 

I'm glad you're taking him in this afternoon. Hopefully he'll heal quickly.

[kalanamak]

 

So what says Dr. Hive? Is there something else I should have done? Should I have taken him in last night? The accident was at about 4:45 so I couldn't have gotten him into his doc yesterday at all, I wasn't thinking that far ahead. I was holding is hands from his face and pouring water instead.

 

I don't know peds, but in general, eyes are VERY sensitive, and any trauma to the outsides causes a person GREAT distress. If a child is running and playing I'm not thinking scratches or infection.

 

They used to goop and patch like mad. We had a scratched cornea last year and it was 2 days of goop and no patch....and that was a finger nail gouge. FYI.

 

I think you weren't a bad mommy.

 

Here's betting there is no sand, but some irritated eyelid lining that needs some lubricant.:grouphug: to your trooper.

[ereks mom]

I washed his eyes with clean water, then called the eye doctor and took him in that afternoon. The exam showed no abrasions, so the water apparently did the trick. He had no lasting ill effects from the sand in his eyes.

[JenneinCA]

Thank you for the reassurance. I couldn't take him directly to the eye doctor, not even today. Our insurance requires a referral from his primary doctor. So my choices were ER/Urgent Care and waiting until today and seeing the primary guy.

 

I really think he is fine. At least I hope so.

 

I'll update after we get back tonight.

[JenneinCA]

Peter is fine. The doctor shown a light in his eyes and decided they looked so good he didn't need to use the dye. Hooray!

 

So if you ever have a problem with sand in the eyes, rinse well with water for as long as it takes and hope for best.