Sister Has Curling Iron/Eye Accident (she’s okay)

[Diane]

My sister called me around noon today:

Sister: What are you doing today?
Me: Just about to have lunch. What are you doing?
Sister: I have a problem.
Me: Oh?
Sister: I was getting ready for work, and the curling iron slipped and burned my eye. [she was soooo calm, I almost didn’t believe what I heard]
Me: Burned your eye? [I’m thinking ‘eeewwww’ and trying not to picture her eye with the hot curling iron on it!]
Sister: Yes, I called the eye doctor and he can see me around 1:00. Can you give me a ride, or should I ask (husband)? [I’m wondering why she’s not going NOW and why she’s not screaming]
Me: I can take you!
Sister: Okay, pick me up around 12:30. (she lives just around the corner from me)

After we hung up, I wasn’t sure what to do. I can’t believe she didn’t have to go to the emergency room or anything. I figured that if it were me, I wouldn’t want to be alone while waiting, so I got dressed and went over to her house. Both of her eyes seemed to be watering, but she seemed okay other than that. She said that the eye hurt a bit and was blurry. [I tried not to think about it.] We got right in my car and drove to the doctor, where we waited at least 20 minutes. The receptionist even had my sister get her insurance card out and everything. {They had her last name spelled wrong in the computer.} After about a half an hour, my sister came out and still seemed very calm. She had some samples of drops from the doctor and said she just needed to keep it moist with the drops. He said that the curling iron must have only been on her eye for a second, and that he’s had about 4 other cases.

On the ride home, she just said that the doctor put something on/in her eye to numb it and removed lots of gross stuff from it. I told her I couldn’t believe how calm she was through the whole thing. She said that she had called her husband and the doctor before she called me, so that’s why she was okay. I still can’t believe it. I think I would have passed out. I’ve haven’t used a curling iron since I was a teenager, and I hope I never see one again.

If anyone out there uses a curling iron, please be careful!

 

[ElizK]

I've actually done that. Hurt like a big dog.

Glad she's ok.

 

[Pamlur]

My daughter did that several years ago; I totally freaked out, rushed to her house, and started calling ophthamalogists until I found one that could take her right in. He deadened it so that he could examine it, but after that wore off she was in quite a bit of pain for several days. It was so scary!

I'm glad your sister is going to be okay.

 

[Diane]

I forgot to add that after we left the doctor, she wanted to stop at Burger King for lunch! And then she went to work! Maybe she has a higher pain threshold than me.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Ouch! I'm glad she's okay, I hope there's no serious damage.

Those hair appliances can get pretty hot. I know I've burned myself a couple of times with my flat iron, never in the eye though. After reading your story, I will definitely take more care.

 

[lulubelle]

I did that once, too. My curling iron did not have anything on the end of the wand, just a hot metal rounded tip, a lot of them have plastic on the end. Ouch. Was rushed to the ER. I was screaming for a long time, I thought I was going to die. Of course, I have a very low tolerance for pain. The "burn" mark was on the white part of my eye and was bumpy and yellow from the damage. The numbing drops worked wonders. I had an eye patch with gauze and had to use antiboitic drops for days after. But once the numbing wore off, man was I in pain. Your sister is a TROOPER for sure! Glad she is okay. Needless to say, I am sure she is like me and will be very, very careful to never do that again

 

[MissGalinda]

Wow, I would have been freaking out as well. That might not be saying much as I'm extremely paranoid. I usually only use a straightener which would probably have to be jammed into my eye to do much damage for the amount of plastic around it