If a patient has a penetrating eye injury, what immediate action should you take?

In the case of a penetrating eye injury, covering both eyes to limit movement is the most appropriate immediate action. This is because any movement of the eyes can exacerbate the injury and potentially lead to further damage, including the risk of the object penetrating deeper or causing additional trauma to the surrounding tissues. By covering both eyes, you help to minimize any involuntary eye movement and protect the injured eye from additional stress.

Covering both eyes is particularly important because when one eye is injured, the uninjured eye may still be affected by the movement or light from the environment, which can cause discomfort or unintentional movement that could worsen the situation.

Irrigating with water can introduce additional complications and is not advised for penetrating injuries, as it may flush debris further into the eye. Applying direct pressure to the wound could also aggravate the injury, leading to more significant complications. Finally, using gauze to apply antibiotic ointment is not appropriate because it is critical to avoid putting any substance directly onto a penetrating injury without specific medical orders, and the risk of infection should be managed appropriately by healthcare professionals, ideally after proper stabilization of the injury.