FAO SQUAD - eye injury

[Ann]

My hubby has injured his eye whilst gardening, cutting a confer and ivy hedge back and fell right into it off the steps!!! Luckily he didn't break any bones, only a gash on his leg but a branch must have scratched his cornea as its very sore, but it's not red and he can see ok. I know he will need antibiotic drops/ cream really in case of infection (as he did it once abroad with grains of sand) My question is, its 9pm on Saturday - no doctors are open or chemists - can we treat it at home -would it be ok to use an eye bath with weak salt water or diluted milk (one of my Mum's old remedies!) What do you advise please Sqad - until he can get to casualty (if it doesn't get better by tomorrow) Thanks! Ann

[Ann]

Hi all - an update! His eye is no better this morning but thankfully no worse, but I have been very firm with stubborn old Hubby and I rung the out of hours service (Not the stupid and waste of time NHS Direct - I totally agree Sqad!) they were most helpful, a doctor rang straight back - 3 mins wait! and he now has an appointment at 11.30 with a doctor at a Rutland hospital who specialise in eye care - very impressed. Many thanks for your advice, will let you all know how he is when he gets back. Thanks Ann x

[Ellipsis]

Exactly ratter. This nearly caused a major family rift as grandparents had done it while looking after our toddlers for the weekend. I would hate for anybody to read this thread and pick up that milk might be a good idea..

[Ann]

i have never used milk as I can see that it would be full of bacteria - but my Mum who is 88 has told me they always used it when she was little, wonder why?

[Ann]

All sorted! He saw a doctor immediately he got to the hospital and had a thorough check of his eye and no infection or foreign bodies but thinks it is scratched - so got fucithalmic antobiotic ointment ........ so in the words of our revered medical master "no big deal!" :)) Thanks to you all .....

[Sqad]

Ann....your feedback is appreciated.

[rsvp]

Ann86 - so sorry, you asked me a question and I'd gone off this thread - only just returned. No, I don't have medical qualifications but have used saline solution for many, many years on family and animals alike - never had a problem at all and it has appeared to help. I hope your hubby's eyes is on the mend now.

[Ann]

Thanks rsvp - its nearly better now thanks to the antibiotic drops, but he has really suffered since Saturday - but that will teach him to climb ladders and not listen when I told him to be extra careful as it seemed unsteady! :)