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Corneal Foreign Body

Most of the time, when you “get something in your eye”, your tears will wash it out or it works its way out on its own. Sometimes; however, a tiny foreign object becomes embedded in the outer layers of the corneal, the clear focusing surface that covers the iris, which is the colored part of your eye. A corneal foreign body cannot only be painful; it can cause an abrasion or infection that actually endangers your eyesight.

A foreign body is not always visible without magnification. But it may be seen easily with an instrument called a slit lamp, which is actually a specialized microscope.

Treatment

The foreign body must be located and removed. An anesthetic eye drop may be used so your eye can be touched and an embedded object can be removed painlessly. After its removal, a pressure-type bandage may be placed over your eye to stop the lids from blinking; otherwise they would rub on the corneal wound and prevent its rapid healing. If a bandage is placed on your eye, do not remove it until you are instructed to do so.

If you are given a prescription for eye drops, wait until the bandage has been removed before starting the eye drops. Then follow the directions on the label as to the frequency and duration for its use.

Note: You will not be given the anesthetic eye drops to use at home, even though they make your eye feel much better. Repetitious use of such eye drops is very dangerous for the eye.

After Treatment

For a day or so after the foreign body has been removed, your eye may continue to feel like there is something still in it. The reason is that a “raw” spot remains on the cornea where the foreign body has been. If the object was metallic (iron), it may have deposited some rust that was also removed, creating a larger spot to heal. The area involved may be no larger then the head of a pin, but the cornea is highly sensitive, having thousands of nerve endings, so your eye may feel as if a large boulder is in it. The pain will probably be lessened by taking aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

All symptoms should be alleviated within a day or two. If you continue to have discomfort and pain after 24 to 48 hours, or if the eye remains red, sore and light sensitive, if you think your eye has not healed well, or if it you are still experiencing a lot of pain, tearing, or a discharge; it may be infected. Please make an appointment to have it looked at as soon as possible.

If you’re instructed to return for a follow-up, do not skip a scheduled appointment. Even if your eye is doing well after the removal of the bandage and the use of the eye drops, it’s important to keep your appointment. These visits are important for checking your progress until the cornea is fully healed.