Self-Care Guidelines
As with corneal abrasions and recurrent erosion of the cornea, self-care includes:
- Never rubbing the involved eye at any time.
- Using artificial tears to bathe the eye.
- Using clean water to gently rinse the eye.
- Using sunglasses to reduce light sensitivity.
- Trying to keep the eye shut after gentle rinsing.
- Gently removing a contact lens, if present, and leaving it out until the eye is healed.
Remember that taking precautions like wearing protective eyewear will significantly reduce your risk of corneal foreign body.
Note:Often, simply rinsing the eye will eliminate the corneal foreign body. Another measure to try is to gently pull the upper eyelid over the lower eyelid and release gently. This maneuver will often dislodge the foreign body so that it will wash out. Contact lens wearers should always have a back-up pair of glasses for when contact lenses shouldn't be worn.
More information can be found about corneal abrasions and recurrent erosion of the cornea in their respective diagnoses.
When to Seek Medical Care
All children with a suspected corneal foreign body need medical evaluation. Adults should seek medical attention if self-care measures have not helped or if:
- The suspected foreign body is metal, plant, or wood, especially if it came in contact with the eye with significant velocity.
- You or an observer can see the object still embedded in the cornea.
- There is persistent pain that is increasing.
- There is progressive worsening of vision or initial significant loss of vision.
- There is any bleeding, either on the surface of the eye or around the eye.
- There is mucoid, pus, or bloody discharge.
- Symptoms persist beyond 24 hours despite having already removed the foreign body.
Signs and Symptoms
