The human eyes are the less protected and most sensitive organ of man. An infection (viral or bacterial), specks, mechanical damage, and chemical burns can lead to poor visibility or clarity. It is not always possible to visit an ophthalmologist on time, so the question arises, what can be done at home? Most often, saline is used to wash the eyes. Consider the features of the procedure, indications and contraindications for use, as well as whether it is possible to rinse the eyes with saline solution for infants, adults and even cats, and how best to do it.
In what cases are the eyes washed?
Eye washing can be resorted to not only in the presence of a pronounced pathology, but also with fatigue and stress. Often eyes are watery due to the fact that a person has been sitting at the monitor for too long or has performed work related to the strain of the eyeball.
The most common situations when the eyes need rinsing:
- Sorinka got into the eye. Regardless of the size of the subject, the sensations are rather unpleasant and sometimes even painful. In this case, active tearing is observed as a protective reaction of the eyeball to push out a foreign object. In this case, do not rub your eyes, this can further injure the tissue. Is it possible to rinse the eyes with saline solution in this case? Yes, in addition, this will contribute to the natural leaching of a foreign body from the eyeball.
- Perhaps the development of the inflammatory process against the background of some disease. Most often it can be conjunctivitis. If pus is released from the eye area, washing will not cure, but will contribute to a speedy recovery.
- Dry eyes and overexertion. With a strong or prolonged visual load, the eyes also tighten. Washing will help moisturize and relax the optic nerves.
What is saline?
Before answering the question whether it is possible to rinse the eyes with saline, it is worth figuring out what kind of drug. This is isosmotic (it is also called isotonic or physiological) solution of sodium chloride with a concentration of 0.9%. Due to the fact that its pressure is exactly the same as in human blood plasma, it is actively used for injection, physiotherapy in the form of inhalation and for oral administration.
Also, saline is often used to treat the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes in both adults and children. The drug is available in 200-400 ml vials and microdoses in 5 ml ampoules.
The benefits of saline as a means for washing:
- does not damage the mucous membrane of the nose and eyes, but moisturizes and dilutes it;
- possesses antibacterial and antiseptic properties;
- helps to remove most of the pathogenic microorganisms and allergens from the surface being washed.
The advantages include the low cost of the drug, as well as its availability. It is sold in every pharmacy.
Indications and contraindications for use
Saline is primarily used to restore water balance in the body. This is a good remedy for dehydration, regardless of the cause.
Scope of saline solution:
- during or after surgery to maintain plasma volume;
- with intoxication of the body;
- washing the eyes with irritation of the cornea with an allergy, a foreign body or an inflammatory process;
- washing of the mucous membrane (allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, acute respiratory viral infections, after adenotomy);
- inhalation;
- for the treatment of wounds;
- for dissolution of drugs and administration in the form of droppers.
Despite the fact that saline is used in many fields of medicine, there are contraindications to its use. It is not recommended to use the drug with a high content of sodium ions and chlorine ions in the body, with a lack of potassium, acute heart failure, with dehydration inside the cells. He is also prescribed with caution to patients who have revealed pathologies that affect the functioning of the kidneys.
Saline is not injected under the skin or muscles, as it causes tissue necrosis. When sodium chloride comes into contact with tissues, liquid comes out of them, which subsequently leads to their dehydration and death.
How to wash your eyes with saline?
Having answered positively to the question whether it is possible to rinse the eyes with saline for an adult and a child, we proceed to the choice of the drug. You can already buy it ready or cook it yourself. It is done simply: 1 tbsp. a spoonful of salt (no additives) should be dissolved in a glass of purified water.
The timing and frequency of use of saline depends on in which case it is used:
- to remove a foreign body from the eye, drip 2 drops of a solution;
- in inflammatory processes that hit the eye, it is used for several days, instillation (1-2 drops) occurs 2-3 times a day;
- with dry eyeball, pain, strain - 1 drop twice a day.
Are you interested in how and whether it is possible to rinse the eyes with saline solution for a baby or a small child? Any doctor will answer what is possible, but a less concentrated solution is used for children. To do this, it is diluted with water.
Before you start treatment yourself, you should still consult with a specialist who will accurately tell you the dose and determine the frequency of use.
Is it possible to rinse the eyes of a newborn with saline?
Many are sure that since saline is a salt dissolved in water, it is unsafe to use it. Some are sure that it can cause a burning sensation in a baby when washing the mucous membrane of the nose or eyes. But this is not so.
Saline is not felt when instilled into the eyes, as it acts gently. Therefore, it is prescribed from the first days of the baby's life, if necessary.
Can I rinse my eyes with saline as a preventative measure for a child? It is possible, for example, if it is in a dusty room and all the mucous membranes need to be washed. But it is not recommended to use it in a baby whose conjunctival sac swells or pus is secreted from the eye. It is also used for acidification of the eye, because it moisturizes the mucous membrane and helps to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms.
Also, with the help of physiological saline, it is possible to remove a speck from the eye painlessly. It is not prohibited for use even in pregnant and lactating women, which indicates the safety of the drug.
The use of saline in conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is an inflammatory disease of the eye, which is accompanied by increased tearing, itching and pain.
Can I wash my eyes with saline for conjunctivitis and does it help? It is actively used in case of a disease, but not as a main therapy, but as an additional means accelerating the healing process. Without drugs, an illness can not be dispensed with, and washing with physiological saline will help to remove pathogenic microorganisms from the mucous membrane.
The better the eyeball clears, the less bacteria will accumulate there, so the inflammation will pass faster. At the same time, it is worth remembering that it is worth washing your eyes regularly for several days.
Is it possible to rinse the cat’s eyes with saline?
Most owners of furry four-legged friends face this question. Especially with acidification of the eye of a cat, increased tearing or blurred vision.
In this case, saline is a universal remedy, since it is used not only in humans, regardless of age, but also in animals. It rinses the eyes well, removes bacteria and improves the access of drugs to the inflamed cornea.
Manipulations are carried out with clean hands. For the introduction of saline, you can use a syringe without a needle or a sterile bandage. Fleece or cotton pads are not used, since the pile can get into the eye area, which will only lead to a worse situation for the pet.
Do not rinse your cat’s eyes as a prophylaxis only if there are appropriate symptoms. This may be a preparation before administering the drug to the eye, with mechanical damage to the eyeball or allergies. There are breeds in which the nasolacrimal canal has anatomical features that provoke constant lacrimation. These are such breeds of cats as Persians, lop-eared Scots and British Shorthair. They are recommended to wash their eyes regularly, at least once a week.