An ordinary household chore had lasting consequences in the life of a 25-year-old mother living in the United States. Dejah Maynard, who was exposed to chemicals while doing laundry, faced permanent vision loss in her right eye.
HOUSEWORK HAS TURNED INTO A DISASTER
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The incident took place in Roseburg, Oregon, in October. Dejah Maynard, who was doing laundry at home, stated that the bleach bottle slipped from her hand while cleaning and hit the hard floor, causing the liquid to splash onto her face. The chemical came into direct contact with the eye area.
The young woman, who experienced a brief panic after the jump, reflexively rubbed her eyes and quickly washed her face. However, he thought the situation was not serious because he did not feel any burning or severe pain. When he did not see any symptoms, he preferred to sleep to rest.
WHEN HE WOKE UP IN THE MORNING, HE EXPERIENCED A NIGHTMARE
According to the news in Daily Star, Maynard, who experienced intense swelling in his right eye and serious visual impairment in the morning, realized that he could hardly open his eye. Thereupon he went to the hospital urgently. Initial examinations revealed that the chemical substance remained under the eyelid throughout the night and caused severe irritation to the cornea. Doctors found that bleach caused ulcers on the surface of the eye.
TREATMENT STARTED IMMEDIATELY
The eye of the young mother, who was taken to emergency treatment with a diagnosis of chemical burn, was started to be cleaned with a special washing method. As part of the treatment, a medical device called Morgan Lens was used to purify chemical substances from the eye. Along with this method, which provides constant fluid injection into the eye, Maynard was also administered antibiotics and steroid-containing medications. Then he was taken under the follow-up of an ophthalmologist.
PERMANENT VISION LOSS
As a result of the checks, it was announced that Maynard had a permanent vision loss of 5 to 10 percent in his right eye. The young woman, who was preparing for new glasses measurements, said that she would now have more limited vision in her daily life. Evaluating his experiences, Maynard stated that he thought the first intervention was sufficient, but that it was a big mistake. He stated that doctors told him that if he stayed awake, the chemical could be cleared sooner with his tear reflex.
“IT WAS LIKE SHARP PIECES WERE STICKING INTO MY EYES”
Stating that the Morgan lens used during the treatment process was extremely painful, Maynard stated that he could not stand the entire time it had to be applied. He described the feeling he experienced with the words: “It was like sharp pieces were sticking into my eyes.”
VITAL WARNING: WASH YOUR EYES IMMEDIATELY
Saying that he had a difficult time psychologically after the incident, Maynard warned against similar accidents. He emphasized that if chemicals come into contact with the eyes, washing should be done immediately and for a long time. The young woman said, “Such accidents can completely blind a person. I was saved at the last minute from experiencing more serious consequences.”
