Foreign Body in Eye

Subject: Medical and Surgical Nursing II (Theory)

Overview

The most frequent reason for ocular injuries is the presence of a foreign body in the conjunctiva or cornea. It can also pierce and lodge in any eye structure, enter the intraocular contents, and cause serious and permanent damage to the eye if left untreated. Dust, iron, coal, splinters, husks, rice, and insect wings are examples of alien bodies. Extraocular bodies, which may affect the cornea, and intraocular foreign bodies, which have a perforating wound, are examples of ocular foreign bodies. The most effective way to find a corneal foreign body is to perform a slit lamp examination after fluorescein staining. Try flushing the item out if it is floating in the tear film on the surface of the eye. If you can get the object out, clean, lukewarm water or a saline solution should be used to flush the eye.

Foreign body in eye

The most frequent reason for ocular injuries is the presence of a foreign body in the conjunctiva or cornea. It can also pierce and lodge in any eye structure, enter the intraocular contents, and cause serious and permanent damage to the eye if left untreated. Dust, iron, coal, splinters, husks, rice, and insect wings are examples of alien bodies.

Types of ocular foreign bodies

  • Extraocular bodies- may be impacted in the conjunction or cornea.
  • Intraocular foreign bodies- with a perforating wound.

Clinical features

  • Immediate discomfort
  • Profuse watering
  • Redness
  • Pain and photophobia
  • Defective vision if the foreign body lodged in the center of a cornea.

Diagnosis

  • Slit lamp examination after fluorescein staining is the best method to discover corneal foreign body
  • Dovle eversion of the upper lid is required to discover a foreign body in the superior fornix.

First aid

  • Sanitize your hands.
  • The person should be seated in a well-lit place.
  • Find the thing by gently examining the eye.
  • Ask the person to look up as you lower the lower lid. Then, while the subject is looking down, grasp the upper lid.
  • Try flushing the item out if it is floating in the tear film on the surface of the eye. If you are successful in getting the object out, rinse the eye with lukewarm water or a saline solution.
  • Put your face into the rushing water while standing over a sink, cupping your hand.
  • Tip your head back and hold a glass of water in front of your eye. Repeat this a lot.
  • If there is a shower nearby, enter it and submerge your eye under the stream of water.
  • You might be able to carefully remove the foreign body with a cotton swab or a tissue if it is easily accessible and hasn't entered your eye.
  • Take extreme care to avoid dragging the cotton swab or tissue across your cornea and over your iris.
  • Even if you can safely remove smaller foreign bodies or metal bits at home, you should always seek medical attention for larger objects.
  • Tip your head back and hold a glass of water in front of your eye. Repeat this a lot.

Preventive measures

  • Workers in manufacturing and agriculture should be encouraged to wear specialized safety glasses.
  • It should be suggested to scorterists and cyclists to wear safety glasses.
  • Machines for grinding should have specific safeguards.
  • Education about eye health should be emphasized, especially for agricultural and industrial employees.

Complication

  • Acute bacterial conjunctivitis may occur from an infected foreign body or due to rubbing with infected hands.
  • Corneal ulceration
  • Pigmentation or opacity may be left behind by iron emery particles embedded in the cornea.

 

 
Things to remember
  • A foreign body in the conjunctiva or cornea is the most common cause of ocular trauma.
  • It can also penetrate and perforate the intraocular contents and lodge in any structure of the eye which may cause permanent and serious damaged to the eye if neglected.
  • foreign bodies include of dust, iron, coal, splinters, husk, or paddy and wings of an insect.
  • Types of ocular foreign bodies are extraocular bodies- may be impacted in the conjunction or cornea and intraocular foreign bodies- with a perforating wound.
  • Slit lamp examination after fluorescein staining is the best method to discover a corneal foreign body.
  • If the object is floating in the tear film on the surface of the eye, try flushing it out. If you are able to remove the object, flush the eye with a saline solution or clean, lukewarm water.
Questions and Answers

The most common cause of ocular trauma is a foreign body in the conjunctiva or cornea. It can also penetrate and perforate the intraocular contents, as well as lodge in any structure of the eye, causing permanent and serious damage if left untreated. Dust, iron, coal, splinters, husk, or paddy, and insect wings are examples of foreign bodies.

1.Wash your hands.

2.Seat the person in a well-lightened area.

3.Gently examine the eye to find the object.

4.Pull the lower lid down and ask the person to look up. Then hold the upper lid while the person looks down.

5.If the object is floating in the tear film on the surface of the eye, try flushing it out. If you are able to remove the object, flush the eye with a saline solution or clean , lukewarm water.

  • At a sink , stand over the sink, cup your hand, and put your face into the running water.
  • Hold a glass of water to your eye , and tip your head back. Do this many times.
  • If you are near a shower, get in and put your eye under the running water.

6.If the foreign body is easily accessible and has not penetrated your eyeball , you may be able to remove it carefully with a cotton swab or a tissue.

  • Be very careful not to scrape the tissue or the cotton swab across your cornea and over the iris.

7.For larger foreign bodies or metal pieces , you should seek medical care , even if you are able to safely remove them at home.

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