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Inverting the upper eyelid

Discussion in 'Emergency Medicine' started by Nevis, Aug 2, 2011.

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  1. Nevis

    Nevis
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    Hi,

    I was wondering if anyone has any helpful techniques for getting a patient's upper eye lid fully inverted? I recently, had the "my contact lens is stuck in my eye" patient and was having great difficulty getting the upper lid fully inverted. Luckily, the patient helped me out. But aside from just picking it up and folding backward (which seemed for me to be harder to accomplish then it sounds) is there any better technique anyone might have been taught? Perhaps, I'm just being to squeamish about it. Anyways, thank you in advance for your time.
     
    #1 Nevis, Aug 2, 2011
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  2. WilcoWorld

    WilcoWorld Senior Member
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    I ask the patient to close his eyes and look down, then place the stick of a cotton swab length-wise across the upper border of the eyelid and apply gentle downward pressure as I evert by lifting the lashes and skin of the upper lid.

    Not sure if that description helps, but it works for me.
     
    #2 WilcoWorld, Aug 2, 2011
  3. WilcoWorld

    WilcoWorld Senior Member
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    That is unless the patient already learned how to do it to themselves in elementary school, in which case I'll have them do it.
     
    #3 WilcoWorld, Aug 2, 2011
  4. Pinner Doc

    Pinner Doc drop knees, not bombs
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    Yeah, I think the looking down part is clutch.

    I once had a VA patient who had literally no lashes. That was a bit difficult!
     
    #4 Pinner Doc, Aug 2, 2011
  5. Hamhock

    Hamhock
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    Michelle Lin posted on her blog about this once. I can't remember what source she linked to or exactly what she said, but the gist was this:

    Dab a bit of benzion on the end of a cotton-tipped swab and apply to the upper lid when the patient has the eye closed and is looking down. Then spin the lid around the swab and enjoy the view.

    I admittedly have not had the chance to try this yet, but it seems like it would work well.

    HH
     
    #5 Hamhock, Aug 2, 2011
  6. keeping-it-real

    keeping-it-real Senior Member
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    might as well just use some dermabond and really get a good view :idea:
     
    #6 keeping-it-real, Aug 3, 2011
  7. Nevis

    Nevis
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    Thank you Wilco World. I think that technique is a great suggestion and I'm going to give that a shot. As for the Benzoin technique - I have to say I don't quite get that one, but I Really appreciate all the replies.
     
    #7 Nevis, Aug 3, 2011
  8. DeLaughterDO

    DeLaughterDO Ghost in the Machine
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    lol!!
     
    #8 DeLaughterDO, Aug 3, 2011
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