Adult

Traumatic eye injury

Including superficial eye injury, penetrating eye injury and orbital blow out fracture.

Treat for 7 days. If foreign body remainsin situdiscuss duration of treatment with Micro/ID.

In the case of confirmed or suspected CNS penetration, see Intracranial injury (penetrating) / gunshot

Superficial trauma - corneal abrasion

Preferred 

chloramphenicol eye ointment (1%) 6-hourly for 7 days

 

Alternative (preferred in contact lens wearers and/or those with an allergy to chloramphenicol) 

ofloxacin eye drops (0.3%) 2 hourly for 2 days then reduce to qds for 7 days 

Blowout fracture, penetrating injury, intraocular foreign body, or corneoscleral wound

Preferred (including non-severe and severe penicillin allergy)

co-trimoxazole 960mg po bd for 7 days 

If contaminated with soil or excreta: ADD metronidazole 400mg po tds (or 500mg iv tds if NBM) 

Consider adding chloramphenicol eye ointment (1%) 6-hourly if corneal abrasion present.  

 

Alternative

Speak to Micro/ID if the above treatment options are contraindicated.

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 01 Jul 2024