Eye care - A warning

[TwoTrowels]

Yesterday I was skimming a small alcove ceiling when a small bit of multi dropped off the trowel and landed straight in my right eye - I washed it out straight away and carried on.

It felt a bit gritty still but I figured this would pass, I finished what I was doing within about an hour and as I could do no more for the day decided to pack up and go home. At this point it was getting a bit painful so thought I would stop and get some Optrex on the way home, however, on the way home the pain started to get worse so I decided to go to the local minor injuries unit to get it seen to properly.

When I told them what had happened they rushed me into a room (in front of all those that were waiting) and told me I should have gone there immediately as wet plaster is very alkaline and will burn much like cement will. I then had to endure it being flushed with 2 litres of saline solution which was very unpleasant and once they'd finished they made me go to the eye casualty unit at the local hospital.

I was examined by an eye specialist at the hospital who confirmed my cornea is quite badly burned - I now have an ointment and 3 different lots of drops that have to go into the eye up to 6 times a day until further notice and I have to go back to hospital today for a follow up and possibly for the next couple of days too.

I have to say at times it has been excruciatingly painful so please, If you have the misfortune to get wet plaster in your eye SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION!

It was only a small bit of plaster, about the size of a 10p piece which actually landed under my eye but crept over the lower eye lid and into the eye. I have never seen plasterers wear eye protection but I probably will in the future when doing ceilings.

 

[Micilin]

Very good post.

Glasses are good for ceilings, which is the most common time for a bit in the eye.. Cost a fiver and save your eyes.
There is a way of plastering ceilings so that you don't work into your face ie to the side so no splashes. However you can get a splash anytime eg when mixing.

Washing out with milk is good as it is mildly acidic.
However in your lunch bag ( or whatever) have a small first aid kit with plasters , (I use gaffer tape a lot too!) and a couple of saline washes costing about 50p each.

Failing that, a mere rinse is often not enough. Put your open eye to the opening of a plastic bottle of water, look into it and squeeze the bottle hard,quickly . This will flush out. Repeat.

It will remain sore for about ten mis, but this usually does the trick and everything eases.

If not, medical advice ASAP.prob best to to so with any eye discomfort.

Been there, it is very sore!

 

[roy c]

I wear glass's all the time but when I am doing a ceiling I always wear a base ball cap with a peak on it, But I have still had plaster land on my glass's, So you can never be too careful, Hope everything turns out ok for you "two trowels"

 

[clive12345]

Hope everything turns out okay,"two trowels".I am sure it will.
I think every plasterer has had a least one very bad experience
with muck in the eye.
A while ago I was working on site with another plasterer and a labourer .
We had a big set on, the other plasterer was laying down some rounds on a skillion ceiling. When, everything came out of the round and landed on his face.
He was covered in wet plaster and tape.
The site-agent took him to the hospital . While me and the labourer
spent the next two hours trying to catch up with the set.
At the end of the day, I picked him up from the hospital. Then I had to drive thirty miles to drop him off home ,because he still could not see.
We were and still are friends ,but he did not get much sympathy that day.
For the next few weeks we took the mick out of him something rotten.

 

[CluelessDIYer1]

but he did not get much sympathy that day.

Haha, the male working environment.

Working in this environment myself i know what it's like. You could be missing ALL limbs but so long as you're breathing you're still fit for work & any less is you getting a roasting. It's all i've known.

So when i called up my union i think it was (some receptionist anyway) & they were telling me how someone had called in sick so they were short staffed (it was a Monday), i was like oh yeah, the old Monday bug trick.

The woman didn't 'get it' & didn't like me saying it either & her tone became a bit arsey after that.

Two different worlds.

 

[NickB_99]

Really good post TwoTrowels.

May add a link to the wiki for this one. Quite a few times it's come up, and I know when I first started, I wasn't aware how bad it can be if you get any wet in your eye.
If it stops a new DIYer or two getting a bad eye, it's worth it.