Troubleshooting Eye Problems: The Eye Guide

This is intended as a quick guide to commonly encountered eye problems and is not to be relied on as a substitute for proper medical care.

Broken Glasses

Most eyeglass frames can be repaired, at least temporarily, until a suitable replacement can be ordered.  Broken lenses usually cannot be repaired.  Recommendation:  place parts in an envelope labeled with the resident's name and give the envelope to social services to be held until our next visitation.

Dry Eye

This condition may be uncomfortable, but it is seldom an emergency.  Artificial tears may be used as often as needed, non-preserved versions are the best choice.  Document the problem and have the primary care physician order eye consultation.   If the eye cannot be closed, or is exposed during sleep, telephone consultation with us is recommended to develop a management plan before significant corneal damage occurs.

Itching Eye

This is usually allergic in nature and is commonly caused by rubbing the eyes with foreign material on the fingers.  Recommendation:  Keep resident's hands clean of food and other materials, particularly the underside of the fingernails, which often harbor food residues.  Keep the fingers away from the eyes.  Clean eyelids and lashes with baby wipes or other non-irritating cleanser.  Use artificial tears as often as desired to rinse off offensive residues.  If the condition persists, take a written history of symptoms and get a telephone order for eye consultation.  Call us if you feel more aggressive treatment is needed.

Crusty Eye

This is universally caused by poor hygiene.  Recommendation:  cleaning lids, lashes, hands and fingernails twice per day will usually eliminate the problem. We recommend that you moisten a cotton pad with contact lens disinfecting saline to cleanse around the eyes.  This will loosen dried mucous and will act as a topical germicide as well.  If the condition persists, take a written history of symptoms, and get orders for eye consultation.

Red and Painful Eye

Grade I:  If the pain is only intermittent, the eye is normal looking and the vision is unaffected, this is not likely to be serious, and may not be eye pain at all.  Sinus inflammation causes intermittent sharp pain that feels exactly like it is coming from the eye.  Artificial tears may be helpful.  If it persists, get a telephone order for eye consultation. 

Grade II:  If the pain is constant but mild, with no loss of vision, little or no redness, and mild to minimal discharge, the condition may cautiously await visitation.  If it worsens, however, it may need to be sent off site for evaluation to the nearest available eye clinic.  Inform the patient’s primary care physician of the problem, and get a telephone order for eye consultation.  You may wish to call us for advice on triage and management.

Grade III:  If the pain is constant and severe and/or accompanied with loss of vision, or extreme redness and/or copious discharge these represent emergent conditions and should be sent off site to the nearest available eye clinic.  It cannot wait for visitation, even if we are coming within 24 hours; to do so may risk permanent loss of vision, especially if the patient has such known eye disease as glaucoma.

Things to call us about ... 727-895-2020

Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes, in all or part of the visual field with no recovery in one hour.

One or both eyes begin to bulge or protrude forward within a short period of time.

Loss of ability to close one eye or blink one eye.

Grade III red painful eye, especially if you're not sure what to do.