Foreign bodies in the eye
A foreign body in the eye could include dust, a wood chip or metal shaving, an insect or a piece of glass.
Foreign bodies such as metal, plastic or wood, can scratch or graze the eye and in severe cases the foreign body may cut or penetrate the eye becoming embedded.
Signs and symptoms
- Sensation that something is in the eye
- Increase in tears produced by the eye
- Increased blinking
- Pain
- Blurred or double vision
- Sensitivity to light
- A visible foreign body
Treatment
- Wear disposable gloves
- Sit the casualty down and stand behind them
- Lean their head back and very gently hold their eye open
- Flush the eye with sterile eyewash or clean tap water:
- Place a towel on the shoulder on the side of the injured eye
- Lean the head back and inclined towards the injured side
- Gently pour the eyewash into the eye trying to ensure it doesn’t flow into the unaffected eye
- If this doesn’t work and the object is on the surface of the eye, try to remove it with a moist piece of gauze or the damp corner of a clean handkerchief
- If unsuccessful the eye should be covered with a sterile eye dressing and medical assistance sought
Embedded objects in the eye
Sharp pieces of glass or metal could become embedded in the eye.
If an object is embedded the:
- Object must be left in place and no attempt made to remove it
- Eye should be covered with a sterile dressing being extremely careful not to make any contact with the embedded object
- Casualty should be taken to hospital immediately or an ambulance called