Skill 27
Eye Irrigation
Eye irrigation effectively flushes out exudates, irritating solutions, or foreign bodies from the eye. The procedure is typically used in emergency situations to preserve vision. When a chemical or irritating substance contaminates the eyes, irrigate immediately with copious amounts of cool water for at least 15 minutes to minimize corneal damage (National Library of Medicine, 2011). Users of contact lenses or artificial eyes may need eye irrigation to flush out particles of dust or fibers from the eye or socket.
Delegation Considerations
The skill of eye irrigation cannot be delegated to nursing assistive personnel (NAP). The nurse directs the NAP to:
