This is again the time of year, when festive dishes are prepared at a fast pace. Preparations are feverish and leave some free time, so you may unintentionally neglect your safety. However the accidents in which the look They are common in the kitchens and above the barbecues.
Eye injuries are the second most common cause of bilateral, partial or total blindness in the world (the first is the waterfall). It is estimated that 3 people at 100,000 have an eye injury annually, and especially in men more than one in ten (13%) suffer an eye injury during their lifetime.
Almost half of these injuries occur at home, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) reports. The kitchen is one of the most common places where they take place, especially in adults.
“The eyes are one of the most sensitive organs in the body and their function greatly affects the quality of life. Therefore, any ophthalmic injury can have significant consequences. Studies have shown that patients transferred to hospitals with ophthalmological injuries have usually been injured in or around their home. However, up to 90%, these injuries could have been avoided, “said Dr. Anastasios-i. Kanellopoulos, MD, Ophthalmologist Surgeon, Founder and Scientific Director of the Laservision Institute of Ophthalmology, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of New York.
The most common injuries to the eyes in the kitchen are burns or wounds from ingredients that are thrown by utensils or sharp objects.
The most common injuries are thermal burns, usually caused by exposure to hot steam or a hot material.
Hot oil or fat, eg, can easily cause serious burn in the cornea of the eye. These kinds of injuries are quite common, but it would be easily avoided if the cookware containing it were covered and their use was made with great care.
“If hot oil or fat is put in the eye, rinse it immediately with plenty of cool running water to quickly remove from the surface of the eye. Do not use drops to blush eye to rinse the eye. If the injury is not visible, artificial tears can reduce the pain. But if the trauma is obvious, you feel severe pain or the pain does not recede quickly, consult your ophthalmologist immediately, “Mr. Kanellopoulos recommends.
Ophthalmic burns can also be caused by sauces, water, raw animal products (eg chicken) and other fluids. Hot liquids can cause severe burns or blisters. But there are also additional risks.
When, for example, a hot tomato sauce enters the eye, a mechanical injury can also be caused. The consequence is that you have a sense of foreign body in the eye, pain, redness and irritation. In addition, tomato and other ingredients (eg lemon) are acidic, so they cause additional caustic discomfort in the eyes.
Other liquids such as those containing raw chicken may contain bacteria, So there is also a risk of infection in the burnt eye.
If you get into the eye hot liquid or even ingredient from the food you cook, to rinse with plenty of coolrunning water. If you find damage to the surface of the eye or do not subside the symptoms with the rinsing, consult the ophthalmologist.
Burn in the cornea can also cause the remains of certain spices. When e.g. You clean hot peppers, your fingers left on your fingers that will end up in your eyes, if you just rinse your hands and then rub them. Therefore, soap and rinse your hands well when using such foods.
And because every vegetable (eg onion, garlic) has different properties that can cause surface, painful irritation or even burn in the eye, it is preferable to cut them by wearing disposable gloves that you will fly as soon as you finish their treatment.
If you end up in your eye a hot spice or vegetable, again your first move should be water rinsing. Then to soap the eyelids and the area around your eyes with shampoo. But have your eyes closed: you should never get soap directly on them.
Injuries from sharp objects to the kitchen are also quite common. Although they are more common in children, they can also occur in adults. The most common culprits are forks and knives. These kinds of injuries are urgent incidents. Consult the ophthalmologist immediately.
Even something you are frying (eg mushrooms) can be thrown out of the pan and get into your eye. And in this case, your first move must be good rinsing.
The baking on charcoal and/or woods also hides dangers. Tobacco, ash and sparks can be brought into the eyes, resulting in various problems. Tobacco causes irritation manifested by pain, tears, redness, dryness and itching (itching). But if you sit too close to the fire and get hot smoke into your eye, there is an additional risk for surface burn.
If the tobacco gets ash or spark, the problems can be more serious. You may suffer e.g. scratch (scratch) in the cornea or present burn in the eyelids or in the ophthalmic bulb. Another danger is to develop inflammation in the thin membrane (conjunctival) that coat the white section of the eyes and the interior of the eyelids.
To protect your eyes when baking on the charcoal, make sure the barbecue is in the point protected by the wind. Also sit at a safe distance from it and unlike the air direction so that the smoke does not come over to you. When you have to approach the barbecue, take care of your eyes a lot. Ideally you should wear special protective glasses, but also a strong pair of sunglasses with large lenses can protect them quite a bit.
If you get smoke into your eye, rinse it with cool running water water. If pain or discomfort insists, consult your ophthalmologist, Mr. Kanellopoulos recommends. If it enters . If reflexes are closed, first pour externally cool water and then try to gently open the eyelid. If you can, keep pouring water for several minutes (it may take 15-20 minutes) and call your ophthalmologist. If you can’t open your eye, go to the ophthalmologist immediately.
“Eye injuries can lead to serious vision disorder or even a permanent reduction, but they can be prevented by simple measures, such as the use of special protective glasses, good hand washing and concentration in the work done in the kitchen and/or around the barbecue. Taking these measures and immediate medical advice can protect us from the unpleasant unexpected, ”concludes Mr. Kanellopoulos.