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Corneal Foreign Bodies

Corneal Foreign Bodies: Symptoms & Treatment

How Foreign Bodies Become Lodged in the Eye or Cornea

Any number of foreign bodies such as sawdust, metal filings, wood shavings, yard debris, etc. can become lodged within your eye or cornea. While these issues generally arise from working without the protection of safety glasses, foreign bodies can become lodged within the eye or cornea at any time even in the most ordinary of circumstances. When this occurs, it is important to have the eye examined urgently and the foreign body removed.

What Are the Symptoms of a Corneal Foreign Body?

Corneal foreign bodies are often associated with a sensation that something is in the eye followed by eye irritation, tearing, and occasionally, blurred vision. Patients that have corneal foreign bodies, often describe their symptoms with some of the following terms:

Feeling of Something in the Eye
Feeling Like Something is in the Eye When Moving the Eye with the Eyelid Closed
Eye Irritation
Sharp Eye Pain
Scratchy Eye Pain
Watery Eye or Tearing
Reddened Eye
Scratching Feeling When Blinking
Sensitivity to Light
Blurred Vision
Loss of Vision
Burning Eye
Bleeding Into the White Part of the Eye

If you think that you have a foreign body in your eye, and are experiencing any of these symptoms, consult an ophthalmologist right away.

Treatment of Corneal Foreign Bodies

Corneal foreign bodies are usually removed in the office, but some deeply embedded foreign bodies may need to be removed in the OR. The first step in the treatment process though, is obtaining a detailed history and completing a thorough examination of the eye. It is very important that our ophthalmologists understand the timing, substance and mechanism of the injury so that appropriate patient care can be given. Our ophthalmologists will also conduct a thorough examination of the eye to test visual acuity and to determine the full extent of foreign bodies present. After completing their evaluation, our ophthalmologists will determine the best way to remove the foreign body, they will delicately remove any and all foreign material, and they will outline any appropriate post-procedural care.

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