The ruling on one who is unable to use water and for whom finding earth is difficult

Question:
I entered a hospital to treat my eye, and I had surgery on it, which was then bandaged. It was difficult for me to obtain earth for tayammum, so I performed wudu' and left the eye alone. What is the ruling?

Answer:
The prayer is valid due to the excuse of the unavailability of earth and the inability to wash the eye. However, if it is possible to wipe over the wound and the bandage on it when washing the limb, that suffices in place of tayammum. If that is not feasible due to fear of harm from the water, then tayammum is obligatory, provided one is able to perform it.