Dealing with injuries is perhaps the most daunting part of parenting. You may struggle with your emotions in the first place, let alone helping a little one handle the trauma. An eye injury sounds even scarier because it may lead to vision complications down the line. Fortunately, most injuries are less severe than you imagine. But you may worsen them by not addressing them appropriately. Awareness can make all the difference, so you must know what to do when your child sustains an eye injury. Here are a few actionable tips for parents to deal with pediatric eye injuries.

Take a preventive approach

Taking a preventive approach is the best piece of advice because it can save you and your child from a lot of stress and trouble. A few precautions are good enough to prevent eye injuries. For example, provide the little ones with age-appropriate toys and keep them safe from sharp edges at home. Projectile toys like darts should not find a place in your home. Older children should wear protective gear while riding bikes and playing sports. Keep chemicals, sprays, sharp objects, and other hazards out of reach. Following these simple measures can help you lower the risk of accidents in the first place.

Check the symptoms

Mishaps may happen despite the best precautions, so you should be ready to handle them. Although you may want to help the child, avoid first-aid and self-medication for eye injuries, as you may end up doing more harm than good. Watch out for signs like redness, swelling, watering, stinging, and pain. Symptoms like blurred or decreased vision are serious as they indicate the possibility of corneal abrasion, which requires immediate treatment. The best tip is to rush your child to a specialist if you notice one or more signs of injury. The problem may not be severe, but a thorough checkup will surely give you peace of mind.

Stay calm and composed

Eye injuries are serious, and it is easy to panic when your child sustains one. But losing your composure is the worst way to handle the situation because you may pass on the stress to your child. Stay calm and composed and assess the extent of damage in the first place. Not all eye injuries are evident. In fact, your child may not even inform you about a mishap in the park or school. But you must pay attention, whether you can see damage or not. Soothe the child first and ask them about the accident. Take the child to an emergency clinic right away because early treatment can be a savior.

Parents often come across pediatric injuries, but eye injuries are the most challenging to deal with. However, you should handle them prudently instead of getting anxious and scared. Also, avoid overlooking them if the kid seems comfortable. Seek a checkup at the earliest to rule out severe damage or complications. Follow the doctor’s instructions to ensure a quick recovery. Most importantly, take precautions to prevent such mishaps from happening again.