In a shocking accident that highlights a common and dangerous mix-up, Brianne Shipley from Florida experienced severe pain after mistakenly applying nail glue to her eye, thinking it was eye drops.
Brianne Shipley's painful ordeal began when she accidentally used nail glue instead of eye drops, resulting in a frantic hospital visit, Daily Mail reported.
Shipley, a resident of Florida, dealt with her low blood sugar due to type 2 diabetes when the incident occurred. A notification prompted her to treat her eye, leading her to make the distressing mistake. As she applied the drops, she noticed the unusual texture of the bottle and realized the error immediately upon contact, but it was too late to avoid the pain.
Describing the intensity of the pain, Shipley said, "It was just burning, on fire; it felt like rocks in my eye." In a panic, she screamed and tried to call for emergency assistance while attempting to wash out the offending substance herself.
The situation required a swift drive to the emergency room, where medical personnel quickly attended to her. They immediately treated her by using Q-tips to manually remove glue chunks and a Morgan Lens to continuously flush her eye with water. During this process, they gave Shipley pain medication to manage the unbearable discomfort.
In the ER, the medical team swiftly worked to mitigate damage to Shipley’s eye. They administered ointments and scheduled further check-ups to assess potential long-term impacts on her vision, which remained slightly blurry after the incident.
After a night in care, doctors discharged Shipley with instructions for eye care and future appointments. She returned to the hospital for a follow-up check-up to confirm the recovery progress of her injured eye.
The alarming event gained significant attention after Shipley shared her experience on TikTok, where it received over 2 million views. Many users commented on her post, expressing astonishment at the frequency of such mix-ups and concern over the similarity in packaging between eye drops and nail glue bottles.
The overwhelming response on social media indicated that this type of accident is more common than many might think. Shipley herself was informed by doctors of the frequent nature of such mix-ups. "Doctors told her when she was admitted that the accident was 'more common' than many believe," Shipley recalled in her account of the ordeal.
In response to the incident, viewers of Shipley’s video expressed disbelief and concern, underlining the need for distinctive packaging for such products to prevent future incidents. This sentiment was echoed by multiple commenters who were surprised that changes have not already been made to bottle designs to differentiate them more clearly.
The Arizona Poison Centers have weighed in on the matter, advising individuals who experience similar accidents to visit a healthcare facility immediately. They emphasized that professional medical treatment is crucial for avoiding permanent damage to the eyes.
Experts discourage attempting to remedy such accidents at home, stressing the importance of professional intervention. The use of the Morgan Lens and other medical procedures in the ER highlights the adequacy of hospital resources in handling these emergencies.
Fortunately, according to statements from medical professionals and the Poison Centers, there have been no documented cases of permanent damage due to similar incidents, provided that the victims seek immediate care.
Shipley awaits further medical examination to determine any lingering effects on her vision but remains hopeful of a full recovery. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and caution when handling and storing household substances, particularly those in similar containers.
