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. 2018 Apr 9:12:669-676.
doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S157005. eCollection 2018.

Eye wash water flow direction study: an evaluation of the effectiveness of eye wash devices with opposite directional water flow

Jennifer S Fogt  1 , Lisa A Jones-Jordan  1 , Joseph T Barr  1
Affiliations

Eye wash water flow direction study: an evaluation of the effectiveness of eye wash devices with opposite directional water flow

Jennifer S Fogt et al. Clin Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Introduction: New designs of eye wash stations have been developed in which the direction of water flow from the fountain has been reversed, with two water streams originating nasally in both eyes and flowing toward the temporal side of each eye. No study has been done to determine the ideal direction of water flow coming from the eye wash in relation to the eye.

Materials and methods: Ophthalmic eye examinations were conducted before and after the use of two eye wash stations with opposite water flow directionality. Fluorescein was instilled in both eyes before using an eye wash to measure the effectiveness of the water flow. Subjects were surveyed upon their experiences using the eye washes.

Conclusion: Ophthalmic examination found no significant difference in the efficacy of the eye washes with nasal-to-temporal water flow when compared to temporal-to-nasal water flow direction.

Keywords: cornea; eye wash; ocular burn; water flow.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Eye wash study design. Abbreviation: BCVA, best corrected visual acuity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Eye wash study questionnaire.
Figure 3
Figure 3
End-of-study eye wash questionnaire.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The water flow of an eye wash station with diverging water flow. This model includes a face wash flow of water above and below the eyes. The distance between the peaks of water flow are approximately 110 mm apart.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The water flow of an eye wash station with converging water flow. The two streams of water form one large plateau of water that will accommodate people with an inter-pupillary distance of 120 mm or less.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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