Foreign bodies in the eye

March 2018 | by EMauthor


Subtarsal foreign bodies


•Always inspect under the upper eyelid

•Can be removed using a cotton bud and probably without local anaesthetic

•Check for corneal abrasion and treat accordingly


Corneal foreign bodies


•Most of them will be seen on inspecting the cornea with or without the slit lamp, always inspect under the upper lid


Treatment


•Instil local anaesthetic, amethocaine or benoxylate into the affected eye

•Remove the foreign body with a cotton bud or with the tip of a green needle

•Check for residual rust ring and try to remove

•Treat the remaining corneal abrasion with chloramphenicol eye cream for 4 days with eye padding

•Seek senior help or refer to Ophthalmology if you fail to remove the foreign body or significant rust


Intraocular foreign bodies

•Beware of them with suggestive history (chisel and hammer use or grinder accidents)

•Can occur without significant eye pain

•If suspected, obtain an x-ray of orbit

•Refer these cases to ophthalmology


 Contact details for referrals
Southend University Hospital 01702 435555, ask for 'opthalmology doctor on call'
The operator will give you a mobile number of the ophthalmology trainee on call



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