Eyelid laceration refers to a cut on the eyelid. Eyelids are designed to protect our eyes against any foreign objects that may enter into our eyes. Furthermore, they keep our eyes from drying out. When your eyelid is cut, it's really important to visit your eye doctor right away because an eyelid cut can affect other parts of your eye, such as your cornea, which is the front portion of your eye, and your iris, which is the colored portion of your eye. In addition, if the cut occurs on the inner part of your eyelids, it may affect your tear ducts and your tear drainage system.

How are eyelid lacerations treated?

No matter how shallow or deep the cut is, it is very important to have your eyes inspected by an eye doctor. At an eye doctor's office, you would usually have your eyelids inspected under a slit lamp, which is a microscope, to see how deep the cut is. They would also put dye on your eye to look at the front portion of your eye to make sure that your cornea was not damaged. Besides that, they will provide you with antibiotic ointment since an open wound on your eye is more inclined to become infected. The purpose of the antibiotic ointment is to prevent as much infection as possible. Additionally, if the cut is really deep, they may even refer you to a surgeon to have stitches put in.

Can cuts on the eyelid be prevented?

Accidents are inevitable, but it's important to prevent them from occurring in the first place. For this reason, if you work in a hazardous environment or know you will engage in dangerous activities that may put your eyelids at risk, it's imperative that you take the proper precautions, make sure to wear the appropriate eye protection, safety goggles, in order to prevent these eye injuries from occurring, which could result in permanent vision loss.