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Medical Treatment for Flash Burns

Exposure to ultraviolet light can trigger a flash burn, which causes inflammation of the cornea. It is a common injury in those who use welding torches but can occur from any source of UV light like regular sunshine and tanning beds. You need to see a doctor to receive medical treatment.

  1. Treatment Goals

    • Treatments aim to ease the pain during the healing process and protect the eyes from further damage and infection. In addition to medical treatments, you need to take certain self-care measures.

    Eye Drops

    • Your doctor might give you one or more types of eye drops. They include those that restrict movement of the ciliary muscles of the eye to promote rest and pain reduction, steroid drops to ease inflammation and antibiotic drops to prevent infections.

    Pain Medication

    • You can use over-the-counter pain medications like aspirin or Tylenol in addition to your topical eye treatments. In rare cases you might require stronger prescription agents, according to Emedicinehealth.com.

    Complementing Medication

    • Certain self-care measures can complement your medical treatments. Your doctor might recommend wearing padding over your eyes to allow them to rest. Wear sunglasses if they feel sensitive to light. You can also use artificial tears to relieve any discomfort.

    Follow Up

    • You should meet with your ophthalmologist 24 to 48 hours after your injury to make sure your healing is progressing properly. Keep any follow up appointments he schedules. This is particularly important because infections might not manifest right away

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