Corneal foreign body

A corneal foreign body is a particle which has become stuck to the front of the eye. Usually you feel that something has flown or blown into your eye. You may have been grinding, cutting or drilling 1-3 days earlier.  The small particle, which we call a ‘foreign body’, often lies on the cornea (window) part of the eye.  The most common foreign body is a rusty metal particle. The foreign body may cause:

• Watering of the eyes
• Painful uncomfortable feeling that something is in your eye.
• Redness of the white part of the eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Sometimes blurred vision

The cornea is the most sensitive part of the eye.

How is it removed? 

• Anaesthetic (numbing) drops are instilled into the eye and the particle is painlessly lifted off with a small needle. After the particle has been lifted off it usually leaves an abrasion or ‘scratch’ on the cornea
• After a metal particle has been removed you may be left with a small amount of rust in the abrasion.  This can be removed after 2 days of treatment with antibiotic cream.
• The eye will remain painful until the abrasion has healed.  This can take between 24/48 hours.
• To reduce the pain a pain killing tablet such as paracetamol taken according to instructions may help.

What happens next?        

Usually after a foreign body is removed the eye will not need checking again.  We may ask you to come for a check of the eye is there is rust still in the abrasion after the foreign body is removed, or if your vision has been affected by the foreign body.

Treatment    

The abrasion is treated by putting ointment into the eye and may be padded closed.  You will then be asked to put the ointment in a few times a day for several days.