Foreign Body
Overview
Anyone who has felt as
if there was a grain of sand in his or her eye has probably
had a foreign body. Foreign bodies might be superficial, or in
more serious injuries, they may penetrate the eye.
Fortunately, the
cornea has such an incredible reflex tearing system that most
superficial foreign bodies are naturally flushed out with our
natural tears.
But if the object is more deeply embedded, medical attention
is required.
This photo-illustration shows a foreign body in the iris tissue.
The patieint was hammering a nail (without wearing eye protection)
and was struck in the eye by a chip from the nail. Note how
the nail chip tore the iris.
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms of a foreign body may
range from irritation to intense, excruciating pain. This is
dependent on the location, material, and type of injury.
In rare situations where an object
penetrates the eye, there may be few or no symptoms. If you
have no symptoms, but suspect an object may have penetrated your
eye, it’s always best to seek medical attention. The entry
point of an intraocular foreign body is sometimes nearly invisible. Depending on their location,
foreign bodies inside the eye may or may not cause pain or
decreased vision.
- Mild to extreme irritation
- Scratching
- Burning
- Soreness
- Intense pain
- Redness
- Tearing
- Light sensitivity
- Decreased vision
- Difficulty opening the eye
Detection and Diagnosis
The evaluation includes vision
testing along with careful examination of the surface of the eye
with a slit lamp microscope.
When a superficial foreign body is suspected, the upper lid should
be gently turned up to check underneath for trapped particles.
If the foreign body is difficult to see even with a microscope, the
doctor may instill a drop of fluorescein dye to highlight the
area.
An examination inside the eye with
ophthalmoscopy may also be
indicated depending on the severity of the injury.
Treatment
If a foreign object becomes
embedded within the
cornea,
conjunctiva,
or sclera, a
medical professional must remove it. Attempting to remove it
yourself is dangerous and could result in a permanent scar that
could affect your vision.
Superficial foreign bodies are
usually treated in the office. After numbing the eye with
topical anesthetic, the particle is carefully removed using a
microscope. Afterward, antibiotic medications are generally
prescribed to prevent infection. In some cases, foreign bodies
become trapped underneath the
eyelid.
It is extremely important to examine under the eyelid for any
remnant particles.
Intraocular foreign bodies
typically must be removed in the operating room using a microscope
and special instruments designed for working inside the eye.
These injuries are often vision threatening and should be treated
quickly.
Wearing appropriate safety glasses
is the best way to prevent this type of injury.
Protecting the eyes is especially important when working with
machinery that could cause chips of wood or metal to splinter, as
well lawn equipment such as hedge and line trimmers.
If a particle of wood, glass, metal
or any other foreign substance becomes trapped in your eye, here are
some tips:
- Do not touch or rub your eye!
This can embed the object more deeply, making it more difficult to
remove.
- Keep your eye closed as much as
possible. Blinking only increases the irritation.
- Do not try to remove the object
yourself. This is very dangerous and may make the problem
worse.
- Seek professional help
immediately.
- Tell your doctor what you were
doing at the time of the injury, or what materials you may have
been working with.
St. Luke's Cataract & Laser
Institute provides this on-line information for educational and
communication purposes only and it should not be construed as
personal medical advice. Information published on this St.
Luke's website is not intended to replace, supplant, or augment a
consultation with an eye care professional regarding the
viewer/user's own medical care. St. Luke's disclaims any and
all liability for injury or other damages that could result from use
of the information obtained from this site. |
