Emergency eye care in general practice

Ocular injuries should receive immediate meticulous care. The majority of such injuries can and should be the responsibility of the physician first seeing the patient. The simplest of ocular trauma may result in loss of eyesight but this can usually be prevented by following a few simple rules of ocular care. Lacerations of the lids cannot be sutured in the same manner as simple lacerations elsewhere on the body surface. The peculiar and complex anatomy of the eyelids must be maintained if function is not to be disturbed.