What is the basic care for an eye injury?

The appropriate basic care for an eye injury involves placing a rigid eye shield only on the injured eye. This method helps to protect the affected eye from further injury and minimizes movement, which can exacerbate the situation. The use of a rigid eye shield is crucial as it stabilizes the area around the eye, providing both physical protection and a barrier against potential contaminants. By shielding just the injured eye, it allows the other eye to remain open and unaffected, helping to preserve vision and depth perception, which is important in emergencies.

Other options, while seemingly protective, are not advised. Covering both eyes may lead to unnecessary stress and increased discomfort, especially in cases where the uninjured eye may need to function normally. The suggestion of a pressure dressing is not appropriate as it can increase intraocular pressure and worsen injuries that require immediate medical attention. Covering a penetrating object with an eye shield may instead necessitate surgical intervention; care needs to be taken to avoid applying pressure to the eye itself. Therefore, protecting the injured eye specifically with a shield while allowing the other eye to function is the most effective approach in initial basic care for an eye injury.