If you love to cook, you probably have a good foundation of
kitchen safety. Working with open flames and sharp knives includes a lot of precautions,
but you also want to be aware of your eye health. Eye damage from cooking can
result in a lot of pain and struggles. Learn about four vision problems
directly associated with cooking.
1. Bacterial Infections
When you work with raw meat, you will often rinse off or
clean meats as the first step in the preparation process, but a lot of germs
and bacteria may linger on your own hands. A bacterial infection can occur if
you touch your face after handling the raw meat.
A bacterial infection could impact your eye lid. Your eye
may swell up, and in extreme cases, the swelling could cause the eye to
completely shut. The infection could also block up the tear ducts and result in
extremely dry eyes. Over-the-counter eye drops will help reduce the dryness,
but you would need to see an ophthalmologist to help treat the infection.
To help reverse the infection and swelling, you may need
antibiotic eye drops or oral antibiotic pills.
2. Splattering Oils
Heavy steam can impact your eyes and cause pain, but some of
the worst damage to your eyes can occur in the form of splattering oils. When
you fry foods, the splatter of hot grease can reach your eye and cause extreme
pain. When the pain subsides, the damage may not. Ideally, you want to wear a
pair of basic safety goggles when you work in the kitchen.
If splattering oils do hit your eyes, you should consider a
full eye exam. The eye doctor will test your vision and use special tools to
look at any possible damage. If splattering oil has caused blurred vision, excessive
tear production, or small blood blisters in the eye, then you should see an eye
doctor as soon as possible.
The extreme temperatures of oil can cause damage quickly,
and it only takes one wrong splatter to create severe damage.
3. Allergic Reactions
In some cases, you may cook with ingredients you're allergic
to or develop an allergy you never knew you had. Even if you're not directly
eating the meal, your body could suffer from an allergic reaction due to the
steam, smoke, and vapors released into the air. Often, you will find reactions
in the eyes. You may notice swollen eyelids, red eyes, or general eye pain.
When you have an allergic reaction to the foods you cook,
you should prepare a full list of ingredients so you can help pinpoint the
cause of the allergic reaction. One of the more mild symptoms could be itchy
eyes. You may notice your eyes are itchy each time you cook and the symptoms
gradually get worse.
An eye doctor will help treat the initial symptoms to help
heal the eye and then figure out different methods to protect the eyes in the
future.
4. Spices
Adding a little spice to a meal is great for eating, but not
so much for your eyes. If you've been handling spicy peppers like jalapeños,
then the residue can remain on your fingers for a long time afterward. After
you've prepared a meal, try to wash your hands thoroughly and with a lot of
soap. You may have to wash a couple times to completely remove the pepper
residue.
If your eye burning persists, then an eye doctor can help
flush out your eyes. Some procedures may include basic drops, while others may
include a complete eye wash to eliminate the pepper residue. The exposure to
the pepper may cause redness in the eye but should not result in any permanent
damage.
Ideally, you want to wear gloves while you cook and avoid
any itching or rubbing of your eyes.
Get treatment for any of your eye issues from our
professionals at Calvert
Ophthalmology Center. We can help with emergency situations along with any
basic eye exams and needs.
