Under a patch, even large abrasions tend to heal in 1 to 3 days. If the foreign object has pierced the deeper layers of the eye, an ophthalmologist should be consulted immediately for emergency treatment. Burns Exposure to strong heat or chemicals makes the eyelids close quickly in a reflex reaction to protect the eyes from burns. Thus, only the eyelids may be burned, although extreme heat can also burn the eye itself. The severity of the injury, the amount of pain, and the appearance of the eyelids depend on the depth of the burn.
Chemical burns can occur when an irritating substance gets into the eye.
Even mildly irritating substances can cause substantial pain and damage the eye. Because the pain is so great, there's a tendency to keep the eyelids closed, thereby keeping the substance against the eye for a prolonged period. To treat burns on the eyelids, a health care practitioner washes the area with a sterile solution and then applies an antibiotic ointment or a strip of gauze saturated with petroleum jelly. The treated area is covered with sterile dressings held in place with a plastic bandage or stockinette to allow the burn to heal. A chemical burn of the eye is treated by immediately flooding the open eye with water.