Eye Foreign Body

What is an eye foreign body?

An eye foreign body is something that gets stuck in your eye.

What causes an eye foreign body?

Small objects may be blown or dropped into your eye. Tiny pieces of metal, dust, wood, and sand are the most common objects. Your risk increases when you are in windy weather or are doing construction work.

What are the signs and symptoms of an eye foreign body?

The most common symptom is that you feel something in your eye. You also may have the following:

• Eye pain, redness, or watering.
  
  
• A stained cornea. It may look like you have a rust ring in your eye.
  
  
• Increased discomfort when your eye is exposed to light.

How is an eye foreign body diagnosed?

Your caregiver will ask about your symptoms and examine your eye. You may need one or more of the following:

• Visual acuity test: This test checks your vision and eye movements.
  
  
• Lid eversion: This test is done to check for a foreign body under your eyelid. Your eyelid is gently flipped inside out to check for injury.
  
  
• Slit-lamp test: This test uses a microscope to look into your eye and check for injury. A dye may be used to look for scratches or other damage to your eye.
  
  
• Imaging tests: If the foreign body is hard to see or deep inside your eye, you may need the following:
  
  
  • Computerized tomography scan: This test is also called a CT or CAT scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your eye.
    
    
  • Ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to find the foreign body. Pictures of your eye show up on a TV-like screen.
    
    
  • Eye x-ray: An x-ray takes a picture of your eye to help find the foreign body.

How is an eye foreign body treated?

• Irrigation: A warm liquid flushes out the foreign body.
  
  
• Removal: Caregivers may use a cotton swab to lift the foreign body gently off your eye. They may need to use a needle or other instrument to scrape the foreign body gently off your eye. Numbing medicine will be put on your eye before foreign body removal.
  
  
• Medicine:
  
  
  • Eye drops: Artificial tears may help soothe your irritated eye.
    
    
  • Antibiotic eye medicine: This may be given as an eye drop or ointment. Antibiotic medicine helps fight or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria.
    
    
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine: This group of medicine is also called NSAIDs. NSAIDs help decrease pain and swelling. You can buy this medicine as a pill without a prescription. You may instead be given a prescription for a form of this medicine to put on your eye. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people.
    
    
  • Pain medicines: Your caregiver may prescribe medicine to take away or decrease pain. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine.

What are the risks of an eye foreign body?

• Your eye may be scratched by a foreign body. The foreign body may be stuck deep in your eye. As the foreign body is removed, your eye may be cut or damaged. Your caregiver may not be able to remove the foreign body. In this case, you will need to see an ophthalmologist to have the object removed. It may feel like the foreign body is still there, even after it is removed. If the foreign body is metallic, it may leave a rust ring on your eye. This rust ring may not go away.
  
  
• Without treatment, a foreign body in the eye may cause permanent vision loss. It may cause an eye infection, swelling, tissue damage, or scarring.

How can I prevent more injury to my eye?

• Do not rub your eye.
  
  
• Do not wear contact lenses until your eye is healed, or as directed.
  
  
• Always wear safety glasses, eye shields, or goggles when you do construction work.
  
  
• Rest your eyes as directed. Ask your caregiver if you should avoid reading or computer work.

When should I contact my caregiver?

Contact your caregiver if:

• Your symptoms, such as eye pain or redness continue, even after the foreign body is removed.
  
  
• You notice white or yellow drainage from your eye.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition.

When should I seek immediate care?

Seek care immediately if:

• Your pupil looks misshapen. Your pupil is the black circle in your eye.
  
  
• You have decreased or blurry vision.
  
  
• You have new or worse eye swelling.
  
  
• You have pain deep in your eye.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.